ANALYSIS OF BLACK VOMIT. 



U3 



entirely converted into the fatty matter before-mentioned : 

 but, fulphuric acid, when digefled on putrid bile, foon dif- 

 folved into a blatkilh green liquor. This colour was ren- 

 dered more apparent by the addition of water ; and the 

 mixture had an extremely bitter tafte. When diluted 

 acids were added to putrid bile, they afforded a much lar- 

 ger quantity of coagulable matter, than when mixed with 

 the flaky fubftance of the vomit. Moreover, thcfe fluids 

 differ, in their fpecific gravity ; for, that of the black 

 vomit, compared with diftilled water, is as i is to 1-025, 

 whereas, that of putrid bile is as i is to 0125. 



Thefe elTential differences make it evident, that the 

 black flaky fubftance is not bile of any defcription, or it 

 fliould poffefs fome of the diftinguifliing properties of that 

 fluid. 



The fecond opinion is, that the black vomit confifts 

 of putrid blood. With refpe<ll to this opinion, flmilar 

 objeilions may be made, to what we have already advan- 

 ced, againfl: its being putrid bile. Blood, after becoming 

 highly putrid, and kept for fix months, will impart a red 

 colour to water. This property, like that in bile, is not 

 deftroyed by an high degree of putrefadlion. Blood far- 

 ther differs from black vomit, in not confifting of flaky 

 particles, likewife by fhowing no pi'oof of containing an 

 acid in a difengaged ftate. It farther differs from black 

 flaky fubftance, in not being converted into the fatty mat- 

 ter, by digeftion with the mineral acids. And, likewilc, 

 in its fpecific gravity; for, that of the black vomit, com- 

 pared with diftilled water, is as i is to 1-025, whereas, 

 ■that of putrid blood is as i is to 0417. 



Viewing putrid blood in its fimple ftate, it certainly 

 bears but little analogy to the flaky matter of the vomit, 

 either in colour, odour or tafte ; but, when it is combined 

 with the muriatic, nitric, or fulphuric acid^, and the mix- 

 ture diluted with an infufion of green tea, it refembles, in 



Vol. V. T many 



