A Memoir on the Uric Acid. All 
2. It readily dissolves in water, even at 
common temperatures, and in alcohol. It is 
soluble, also, in alkaline solutions, but 1s not 
precipitated by acids; thus evincing a marked 
difference from the uric acid and its com- 
pounds. | 
3. It is volatile, and, by repeated sublima- 
tions, is greatly improved in freedom from 
colour. 
4. Its watery solution reddens the infusion 
of litmus, but a single drop of solution of 
ammonia destroys this property in a consi- 
derable quantity of the solution, thus proving 
that the acid is only slightly in excess. 
5. When the watery solution of the subli- 
mate is slowly evaporated, it shoots into 
crystals. The shape of these is not well 
defined, owing to their mixture with a portion 
of resinous matter, resulting from the oxyge- 
' nizement of an essential oil, which the sub+ 
limate always contains. Repeated crystal- 
lizations do not. entirely purify the salt, 
though they render it much whiter, nor do 
they deprive it of its excess of acid. 
6. When the crystals are added to solu- 
tion of pure potash, they emit a smell of 
ammonia. 
7. They do not, after being evaporated to 
3F 2 
