29S Aiiaiomical Preparations. 



That tli8 sulphuric acid may lose a portion of its oxygen, without 

 passing on that account to the state of sulphurous acid. 2. That 

 a portion of the sulphuric acid which is employed in the prepa- 

 ration of ether is reduced in that operation ; that consequently, 

 the phaenomena which have taken place in the course of the pre- 

 paration of the ether arise as I have described them, and that 

 the theorv which I propose is the true one." 



These experiments, although they leave much to be desh'ed, 

 are evidently so remarkable, that it was not without reason that 

 we have said, it was astonishing they should have remained so 

 long unknown. We shall now report the additions made by 

 M, Sertnerner. 



[To be continued.j 



XLVf. Anatomical Preparations. 



J.T has been usual to employ for this purpose spirit of wine 

 somewh.t above proof, and which costs 18a. or 20i>. per gallon. 

 It has been ascertained by Mr. W. Cooke, of Great Prescot- 

 street, that a saturated solution of muriate of soda (common salt) 

 answers the purpose equally well ; and this solution (about three 

 pounds of salt to the gallon) does not cost above 10c?. per gallon. 

 The process, as the author remarks *, is exceedingly simple. 



" it consists (savs Mr. Cooke) in putting animal substances 

 (deprived of their blood by materaiion in water) into a saturated 

 solution of muriate of soda. Yet, as I believe the transparency 

 of the fluid and the permanency of the preservation depend upon 

 some trivial parts of the management, 1 shall give the particulars. 



" I keep a saturated solution of muriate of soda in good spring 

 water. Every gallon of water dissolves about three })ounds of 

 salt. 



" The specimens intended for preservation are macerated in 

 water, frequently changed, to deprive them of the colouring part 

 of the blood, which usually occupies three or four days, or more, 

 if the substances are large. I then place them hi a solution of 

 salt, kept in a common receptacle, to saturate them with the 

 salt ; and, as the water suspended in the animal structure would 

 reduce the strength of the solution, this is counteracted by 

 placing in it a linen bag filled with the muriate. It is kept in a 

 linen bag to prevent the foreign matters of the salt from soiling 

 the preparations. At the expiration of a few days they may be 

 transferred from this vessel, into that bottle of solution which is 

 to contain them permanently, or they may remain in the inter- 



» Transactions of the Society of Arts, &c. for 1819. The Society's Silver 

 \Icdal was voted to Mr. Cooke for this xomiimiiication. 



mediate 



