A Memoir on the Uric Acid. 409 
carbonic acid ; while its nitrogen, with the 
hydrogen of the uric acid, formed carbonic 
acid; and this, uniting with a portion of un- 
decomposed nitric acid, composed nitrate of 
ammonia. 
3. The oxymuriatic acid, according to the 
same chemist, also generates ammonia with 
uric acid ; and the volatile alkali remains com- 
bined with muriatic acid, the muriate of am- 
monia being the only substance which he 
obtained. — Fourcroy,’ however, asserts that in 
addition to this product, he obtained acidu- 
Jous oxalate of ammonia, and the muriatic 
and malic acids in an uncombined state: and 
Brugnatelli observed the formation of oxalic 
acid. 
SECT.’ V. 
Destructive Distillation of the Uric Acid. — 
THe distillation of the uric acid per se, 
with a view both to the condensible and: per- 
manently elastic products, has been performed 
by Scheele, by Mr. Higgins, by Dr. Austin, 
and by Dr. Pearson, whose statements do not 
essentially differ from each other. The re- 
sults are carburetted hydrogen and. carbonic 
acid gases; prussic acid ; carbonate of am- 
monia; and an acid sublimate of peculiar 
properties. It is also commonly stated that 
3F 
