EL TT 
Gelatine. i71 
The bones used for this purpose, are those only which an- 
awered no useful purpose (except for the fabrication of phos- 
phorus or ammoniac) before this discovery, such as those of the 
head, the ribs, &c. &c., the legs of sheep and calves, &c. Those 
formerly used by foysmen (tabletiers) are still used for that 
purpose, after extracting so much of the gelatine as can be 
done by ebullition. 
When the heads of oxen are to be operated upon, they 
begin by extracting the teeth, (these are reserved for the 
fabrication of ammoniac, as affording a greater proportion of 
that alkali than any of the other bones,) they then break the 
skull, in such manner as to preserve all the compact parts in 
as regular forms as possible; these pieces present a surface 
of 20 to 30 square inches, and are put to soak in a mixture of 
Muriatic acid and water. The muriatic acid used bears about 
twenty-three degrees of the gzrometre, and is diluted by 
water to about six degrees—four parts of the liquor is used to 
one partof bones. They are left in this state, in open vessels, 
Until a complete solution of the phosphate of lime has taken 
place, and the gelatinous part of the bone remains in its ori- 
ginal shape and size, and is perfectly supple. When this ope- 
Tation is finished, which commonly lasts six or eight days, the 
gelatine is put into baskets, being first drained, and immersed 
4 short time in boiling water, in order te extract any small 
remains of grease, which would deteriorate the gelatine, and 
- also to extract any of the acid which might be lodged in the 
Pores. It is then carefully wiped with clean linen, and 
afterwards washed in copious streams of cold water, to whiten 
it, and render it more transparent; it is then put to dry in the 
shade, 
Two ounces of this gelatine are said to be equal to three 
Pounds of beef in making soup—that is, three pounds of beef 
and two ounces of gelatine will make as much soup, and of 94 
Seed quality, as six pounds of beef. It is constantly used on 
Some of the hospitals of the capital, particularly in the ly me? 
hospital. The ends of the bones, and such parts as from their 
Porosity might still retain a portion of the acid, are separated, 
and used for making glue of a very superior quality. 
