302 ' Frmch National Institute. 



ceetis from a decrement on the edges adjacent to this angle. 

 We have seen the primitive form copied as it were by a law 

 oidecrcmeat. A nueleiis even, although fictitious, substi- 

 4uted in in)agination for the true one, would give a dodeca- 

 hedron completely similar to that of paradoxical carbonated 

 lime, by the help of a law still more simple than that which 

 really takes place *. In the species particularly in which 

 ihe primitive form has a certain character of symmetrvj as 

 when it is a rhomboid, the analoi^ics and properties present 

 themselves on all hands. It should seem as if geometry 

 could not touch any term of the innumerable series of pos- 

 sible terms, without leaving on it the impression of some 

 interesting verity. 



[To be continued.] 



XLII. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE 

 FOR THE YEAR 1806. 



[Concluded from p. 237.] 



iNo person is ignorant how widely Messrs. Fourcroy and 

 Vauquelin have extended the dominion of animal che- 

 mistry. 



The present year has presented us with two additional 

 memoirs in this department of science one of them treat- 

 ing of animal mucus, and the other of uree. 



The animal mucus transudes from all the membranes 

 which issue from those of the cavities of the body com- 

 municating with the exterior ; such as the nostrils, the 

 trachea, the intestines, and the bladder. It differs from al- 

 bumen, which forms the basis of the white of eggs, because 

 the acids coasulatc instead of dissolving it, and heat on the 

 contrary does not produce coagulation. It differs from ge- 

 latine, because it is not dissolved in such a great quantity in 

 water, and no jelly is fonned ; but it continues to be vis- 

 cous and thready as long as it remains undricd ; it is the 

 mucus hardened, and mixed with a fatty substance, which 

 forms the hair, »iails, and epidermis. 



Dree is the colouring matter dissolved in the urine, and 

 forms one of the principal characters of this liquid : ipore 

 abundant in azote than anv other animal substance, itseems 



* It will be shown in the geometrical part of this work, that it is always 

 possible to sutistitiite iiypothctically, instead of the true nucleus, a secondary 

 form chosen at pleabiirc, in such .i nniiiner that the other forms become se- 

 condary in their turu with rtspect to this supposed nucleus. 



essentially 



