on Animal and Vegetable Substances. 39 
degree in dissolving in an acid. For comparison, two other mixtures 
were at the same time made of the same vegetables and water and 
bottled, one of which was corked, being about half full of air, the other 
was not corked ; a little cotton wool merely was put into the mouth 
of the bottle to exclude dust and prevent evaporation. 
Examined on the 1st November 1838 the mixture with the lime 
appeared to be but little altered; the leaves and the flower retained 
their form ; the former were of a bright fresh green ; the latter had 
become brown; the water was colourless; the lime had acquired a 
light greenish hue; it dissolved in dilute muriatic acid without giving 
off a particle of carbonic acid gas. The water evaporated yielded but 
a small residue, consisting chiefly of lime. The leaves and flower, 
though they retained their form, yet when shaken in the bottle, were 
broken into small pieces, and the leaflets detached. Farther, it may 
be remarked, that the smell perceived on drawing the cork was simi- 
lar to that of bruised clover. 
The other mixtures, to which lime had not been added, exhibit 
different results. That which was corked, a portion of air included, 
examined on the 4th November 1838, appeared much altered; there 
was at bottom a light greenish sediment; at top an almost black 
mass, and suspended in the water intermediately were the small flower- 
leaves, almost colourless ; the water was greenish, and when evapo- 
rated to dryness yielded a small brownish extract ; the leaves were 
in a pulpy state, and disorganized ; the smell from the mixture was 
offensive, not unlike that of clover fermenting. 
The mixture from which air was not excluded, fermented soon 
after it was put by ; ten days after, namely, on the 27th June, it 
was noted that the vegetable matter was rapidly decomposing with a 
very offensive odour, approaching to that of the putrid; that much 
gas had been disengaged, and a good deal of sediment had collected. 
Examined on the 2d November 1838, it was found in a state very 
similar to that last described, bearing marks of advanced decomposi- 
tion. 
An experiment similar to that on the mallow leaf and clover was 
made with lime and water, on moss and lichen, and with a very simi- 
lar result. It was commenced on the 23d June 1836, and termi- 
nated on the 1st November 1838. The moss and lichen retained their 
form, and bore being shaken in the bottle without falling to pieces. 
The water had acquired a light greenish hue; the lime a brownish 
hue ; the water evaporated afforded a small brownish residue con- 
sisting chiefly of lime. 
I shall mention one experiment more of the same duration, in 
which clover leaf and flower and mallow-leaf were put into a bottle 
covered with hydrate of lime, and the access of air excluded by a cork 
and sealing-wax. Examined on the 2d November 18388, the flower 
was found brown ; the clover-leaves of a very light green ; the mal- 
ow of a dark green, and all very friable, falling to pieces when 
