Report of the Progress of the Sciences in France. 29 



The serum of the blood gave upon analysis : Grains. 



- Water 90-5 



Albumen , 80* 



Muriate of potash, soda, and lactate of soda 4* 



Soda, phosphate of soda, and a little animal matter 4- 1 



In speaking of the lactate of sodi, Berzelius observes, that 

 the existence of the lactic acid discovered by Scheele had been 

 erroneously doubted by Fourcroy and Vauqueliu. The blood 

 contains no gelatine nor earthy phosphate. 



The fibrine, albumen, and colouring matter resemble each 

 other so closely, that they may be considered as modifications of 

 one and the same substance : they give earthy phosphates and 

 carbonates of lime solely when they are decomposed. 



The author thinks that the phosphate of iron does not exist 

 ill the non-decomposed colouring matter, and that which we 

 obtain by incinerating it is a product of combustion. 



The colouring matter dried and exposed to the fire in a red- 

 hot crucible melts, swells, and burns with a clear flame ; it leaves 

 a pory charcoal, which burns with difficulty. In burning, a 

 smell of ammonia is constantly exhaled, although it had been 

 exposed several times to' a strong fire. 



This extrication of ammonia from a burning charcoal, and 

 which has been long exposed to the fire, is according to him a 

 remarkable phsenomenou : hence he concludes that this am- 

 monia is a new product. 



Margarine. — Chevreul has entered upon an extensive inquiry 

 into the combinations of fat bodies and the alkalis. When we 

 put, he observes, soap from hogs' lard and potash in a great 

 mass of cold water, one part is dissolved and another is depo- 

 sited in the form of small shining pellets: he calls it mother of 

 pearl substance (matiere nacree). 



This matter is formed of potash 8*16 



Ahother fat substance 91 •84 



This last substance has the lustre of a pearl. The author 

 on this account calls it margarine, from the Greek word. In 

 order to obtain it, he places the mother of pearl substance in 

 water acidulated with muriatic acid. The acid seizes the potash, 

 and the margarine swims above. The latter is lighter than 

 water, and melts at 56*560 centigrade. 



From all the facts recently published by Sir Humphry Davy 

 and Berzelius, M. Delametherie draws the following conclusions : 



1 . We can no longer regard pure air, or oxygen as it has 

 been called, as the ))rincipal agent of heat or of combustion, 

 since it is proved that this gas contains the least caloric of any 

 other, and that the inflammable gas, the hydrogen as it is called, 

 contains the most caloric. Besides, it is proved that in several 



com- 



