86 Mr. Golding BircPs Experiinental Researches 



substituted for the neutral carbonate of soda, in the above 

 experiments, a much more considerable evolution of the acid 

 gas occurred, as might indeed have been expected a priori. 



12. I next repeated the experiment (10. )> substituting for 

 the carbonate of soda a (previously well-boiled) solution of 

 carbonate of potash of nearly the same specific gravity, the 

 bent tube with which the flask was furnished dipping into 

 lime-water; but not the slightest opacity occurred, even after 

 the ebullition had been kept up so long as to cause a partial 

 decomposition of the albumen, evinced by the mixture assum- 

 ing a deep-brown colour. From the result of this experi- 

 ment I think it may be fairly deduced, that although albumen 

 is capable of partly decomposing the carbonate of soda, yet 

 that it is by no means sufficiently energetic to exert a similar 

 action on the carbonate of potash. 



13. The result of the last experiment tends to throw a 

 considerable degree of obscurity over the nature of the sol- 

 vent action exerted by carbonate of potash or albumen, for 

 that it does exert such an action there can be no doubt, as it 

 prevents the coagulation of albumen by heat ; for while, in 

 the case of the solution of albumen in carbonate of soda, we 

 have sufficient data to prove that part of the carbonic acid 

 is expelled, and an alkaline albuminate formed ; yet we are 

 unable to apply a similar explanation to the solution of albu- 

 men in carbonate of potash, in consequence of our want of 

 evidence of its possessing sufficient energy to exert even a 

 partial decomposing action on the latter salt : we have there- 

 fore only the alternative of supposing that it either forms a 

 ternary combination with the carbonate of potash, or that it 

 exists merely dissolved in the alkaline salt without (strictly 

 speaking) chemical combination. 



Action of Electric Currents of different Intensities on Albumen 

 in its free or combined State. 



14. Upon no subject connected with the products of orga- 

 nization has more discrepancy existed than upon the results 

 of electric currents on albumen ; one author stating that it is 

 deposited from its solution at the negative; another, at the 

 positive electrode; while others, as Raspail {Nouv. Syst. de 

 Chim. Organ.\ declare that it is coagulated equally at both 

 electrodes; all, however, agreeing in the excessive delicacy 

 of an electric current as a test for detecting its presence when 

 all other means fail. But after investigating this subject with 

 considerable care, using different intensities of electric action, 

 solutions of albumen of different degrees of concentration, and 

 (what I found to be of considerable importance, as influencing 

 the results,) electrodes of different metals, I feel myself justi- 

 fied in stating, that the action of electric currents on albumen 



