A Memoir on the Uric Acid. AIS 
Dr. Austin has proved that the sublimate 
itself may he decomposed by the action of 
heat, and may be resolved into ammonia, 
azotic gas, and prussic acid. Her has ascer- 
tained, also, that when heated with nitric 
acid it affords carbonic acid and_ nitrogen 
gases. As to the nature of its components, 
it agrees in general with the uric acid, from 
the disunion of whose elements, and their 
re-combination in a new manner, it undoubt- 
edly results. Both substances contain oxy- 
gen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen, but in 
different proportions, which I am not at pre- 
sent able to assign. It is only, indeed, of 
late, that the improved instruments and me- 
thods of analysis, invented by Gay Lussac 
and Thenard,* have enabled us to determine 
minutely the composition of animal and vege- 
table substances ; and I have not yet been 
able to furnish myself with the apparatus, 
which is necessary to the successful prose- 
eution of this branch of the enquiry. 
* Recherches Physico-Chimiques, Tom. ii. 
