A Memoir on the Uric Acid, 407 
son admits, the compounds of alkalis with 
sulphur, and with sulphuretted hydrogen. 
3dly. Because it detaches the oil from soap. 
That Dr. Pearson did not obtain this result, 
may be ascribed to his having used either a 
saturated urate, or an insufficient quantity of 
uric acid; for itis well known that even the 
stronger acids, added in too small a propor- 
tion to solution of soap, scarcely effect any 
change in it. To produce this change with 
urie acid, it is essential that it should be 
added in powder and in due quantity, and 
that its action be assisted by heat. 
Athly. An unequivocal test of the acidity. 
of this substance is, that it forms with the 
alkalis and earths, chemical compounds, in. 
which the qualities, that belonged to them, 
when separate, are no longer apparent. . To. 
the evidence of all these properties, it cannot 
be sufficient to object the want of sourness 
to the taste, a quality which is equally defici- 
ent in the prussic acid.. We may safely, 
therefore, consider the body in question as en- 
titled to be ranked in the same class of chemi- 
cal compounds; but its acid power is extremely 
feeble, as is proved by the very small proportion 
of alkali which it is capable of neutralizing. 
