144 



Analysis of Scientijic Books. 



Muriatic acid in union with a fixed alkali* . 



with ammonia . , 



in a free or unsaturated state 



Total . . 



No. I. 



Grains. 



.12 



1.56 



1.59 



3.27 



No. II. 



Grains. 



.95 



.76 



2.22 



3.93 



No. Ill 

 Grains. 



1.71 

 .40 



2.72 



4.83 



These results then seem to demonstrate that free, or at least un- 

 saturated, muriatic acid in no small quantity exists in the stomach 

 of these animals during the digestive process ; and I have ascer- 

 tained, in a general manner, that the same is the case in the 

 stomach of the hare, the horse, the calf, and the dog. I have also 

 uniformly found free muriatic acid in great abundance in the acid 

 fluids ejected from the human stomach in severe cases of dyspepsia, 

 as the lollowing examples shew. The original quantities of the 

 fluid operated on of course were various but for the sake of com- 

 parison they are reduced in the following table to one pint, or six- 

 teen fluid ounces, which quantity, in three instances selected from 

 many others, was found to contain, of 



Muriatic acid in union with fixed alkali t 



with ammonia . 



in a free or unsaturated s ate 



Totol 



No. I. No. II. 



Grains. Grains. 

 12.11 12.40 

 O.Ooi 0.00 

 5.131 4.63 



17.2-1 



17.03 



No. Ill 



Grainy. 



11.25 



5.. 39 



4 28 



20.92 



* For the sake of analogy, the chlorine, in union with the basis of the fixed 

 alkali, is reduced in this table and the following; to the state of muriatic acid. 



t I have never in more than one instance, (No. 3, of the above table) been 

 alile to detect any sensible quantity of the muriate of ammonia in the fluids 

 ejected from the human stomach ; and upon enquiry of Sir Astley Cooper, who 

 was kind enoiugh to furnish me with the fluid for examination, 1 was informed 

 that tlie patient was in the habit of frequently taking ammonia as a medicine.' 

 —Pp. 46— 49. 



