TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 73 
effects. After stating several chemical details on this subject, it was 
shown that to unite with 100 grains of fibrin, as it exists in the human 
body (in which it is combined with 30,000 parts of water), only 32 
grains of arsenious acid are necessary, or 5 grains of corrosive subli- 
mate. 
The second class of poisons were those belonging to the organic 
‘kingdom. For some such substances as brucia and strychnia, no data 
exist by which it can be determined to what cause their action may be 
assigned. But the morbid poisons, such as putrid animal and con- 
tagious matter, appear to owe their action to a peculiar agent, which 
exerts a much more general and powerful action than chemists are 
aware of. Thus, when oxide of silver is thrown into peroxide of hy- 
drogen, the oxide is reduced and metallic silver remains. Here there 
can be no affinity, for oxygen can have no affinity for oxygen. It is 
merely that a body in a state of motion or decomposition is capable of 
inducting or imparting its own state of motion or decomposition to any 
body with which it may be in contact. There is a disease frequently 
produced in Germany by using decayed sausages as an article of food. 
The symptoms attending the disease are remarkable, and distinctly 
indicate its cause. The patient afflicted with the disease becomes 
much emaciated, dries to a complete mummy, and finally dies. The 
muscular fibre, and all parts similarly composed, disappear. The cause 
of the disease evidently is, that the state of decomposition in which 
the component parts of the sausages are, is communicated to the con- 
stituents of the blood, and this state not being subdued by the vital 
principle, the disease proceeds until death ensues. It is remarkable 
that the bodies of the individuals who have died in consequence of 
it are not subject to putrefaction. 
The cause of the action of contagious matter is similar. It is merely 
a gaseous matter in the state of transformation, and capable of impart- 
ing the state of transposition in which its atoms are to the elements of 
the blood. It is capable of being reproduced in the blood just as yeast 
causes its own reproduction in fermenting wort. The causes of the 
action of yeast and of contagion were shown to be the same, and ex- 
amples were produced in which similar reproductions take place in 
common chemical processes. There are two kinds of yeast used in the 
brewing of Bavarian beer. The fermentation caused by one is tumul- 
tuous, that produced by the other is tranquil. They, therefore, induct 
the peculiar state of transposition in which their atoms are upon the 
elements of the sugar. ‘The same was shown to be the case with the 
vaccine virus of cow- and small-pox; the one of which produces a 
violent action upon the constituents of the blood, whilst the other 
causes a gentle action quite distinct from the former. 
On the Pre-existence of Urea in Urie Acid. By Professor Grecory. 
By the action of peroxide of lead on uric acid, Liebig and Wéhler 
obtained from it oxalic acid, allantoine and urea; and they considered 
the latter as existing in the uric acid combined with urile. The author, 
