or the fecundating Dust of the Date Tree, 65 



evidently, that the pollen or the fecundating dust of the 

 date tree contains : 



1st, A great quantity of malic acid completely formed, 

 and which may be separated from it by cold water. 



2d, Phosphates of lime and of magnesia, th? greatest part 

 of which is taken up bv the washings at the same time with 

 the malic acid_, which renders them soluble. 



3d, An animal matter which is dissolved in water with 

 the assistance of the acid, and which, being precipitated by 

 the infusion of gall-nuts, shows itself as a kind of gelatine. 



Lastly^ a pulverulent substance which the preceding bodies 

 seem to cover, which is insoKible in water, susceptible of 

 giving ammonia, of being converted into an ammoniacal 

 soap by putrefaction, by the fixed alkalis; and which, on 

 account of its properties, seems to be analogous to a dry al- 

 buminous or glutinous matter. This singular composition, 

 which presents a very remarkable resemblance between the 

 pollen of the date tree and animal substances, is still more 

 singular on account of its resemblance to the seminal fluid. 

 We are already acquainted with the striking analogy be- 

 tween the smell in particular of the seminal fluid and the 

 fecundating dust of the chesnut, poplar, &c. The rela- 

 tions which a simple sensation had permitted us to discover 

 between two substances of different kingdoms in nature, are 

 found stronger and more intimate, after analysing both the 

 one and the other of these substances. It seems that in de- 

 stining them to the same uses, Nature had wished to con- 

 stitute them of the same elements ; or rather, that, in order to 

 make them fulfil the same functions, it was necessary to 

 infuse into thetn the same principles. It is true, that in 

 spite of the discoveries in chemistry, in spite of the precise 

 knowlcdire which it furnishes upon the comparative compo- 

 sition of the fecundating substance in both kingdoms of or- 

 ganized bodies, we are scarcely further advanced as to the 

 mysterious property which distinguishes tliis matter: and 

 we have not thrown any better light upon the relation which 

 exists between its composition and its fecundating quality. 



Vol. 31. No. 121. Jw/?;: 1808. E IX. On 



