410 A Memoir on the Uric Acid. 
a portion of the uric acid is volatilized unal- 
tered; but this L have never been able to — 
observe, and I believe that volatility is not 
one of its properties. Using a succession of 
receivers, and taking the products at various 
periods, I have remarked them to be formed 
in the following order, Ist. A very minute 
portion of water, not exceeding a drop or 
two from 100 grains of the acid, impregnated 
with carbonate of ammonia; then concrete 
carbonate of ammonia; next prussic acid); 
and afterward the peculiar sublimate of 
Scheele, in the proportion of about one fourth 
the calculus employed. In the retort there 
remains about 4 the weight of charcoal. 
The nature of this sublimate not having 
been sufficiently examined, I investigated its 
properties with considerable aitention. Scheele 
believed it to resemble the succinic acid; but 
Dr. Pearson thought that its qualities are 
rather analogous to those of benzoic acid. 
The experiments, which I have made, lead 
me to infer that. it contains neither of those 
acids; but that it is composed’ of ammonia 
united with an acid swt generis. Its properties 
are the following: 
1. It has a yellow colour, a cooling bitter 
taste not mixed with that of any acid, but 
strongly flavoured with an animal empyreuma. 
