420 Rcfutalion of Mr. Walker's Claim to the [June, 



described by him, did not depend upon albumen, but upon a spe- 

 cies of mucus, which, probably, had he tried it, would as readily 

 have been precipitated by acetic acid and heat, as by any of the 

 mineral acids. If albumen had really existed in it, I sec no reason 

 why 1 should not have met with, at least, traces of it in the aqueous 

 solution, (A) since it is well known that albumen may be dried at 

 a low temperature, without injuring its properties of dissolving in 

 water, or, as far as I know, any of its properties.* I cannot saj', 

 indeed, how the specimen I obtained was dried; but it had the 

 appearance of having been dried spontaneously by simple exposure 

 to the air. The properties of the colouring matter, as described 

 by Mr. Kemp, do not differ materially from those above described. 



After all, however, it would be desirable to examine this sub- 

 stance in its recent state, as it appears to have undergone some 

 changes in drying 



This substance, from the length of time which it takes to subside 

 in water, appears admirably contrived for the purpose of concealing 

 the animal from his enemies," &c. A property also which, added 

 to the permanent nature of its colour, must, as Mr. Kemp ob- 

 serves, render it valuable as an ink, or water colour. 



Article IV. 



Refutation of Mr. Walke/s Claim to the Discovery of the Uses of 

 the Cerehellum : tvith further Obsei'vations on Respiration. By 

 Dr. Cross. 



(To Dr. Tiiomson.) 



SIR, Glasgow, April 8, 1815. 



In the 27th number of your Annah of Philosophy there appeared 

 a letter fiom one Dr. Leach, in which it is peremptorily asserted 

 that Gall and Spurzheim have anticipated me in the discovery of 

 the function of the cerebellum, and of the structure of the " spinal 

 mass of nerves," 



* I may observe in addition to the above, Ihat as far as my observation ex- 

 tends, albumen, such as i( exists in the blood, is not found as a product of secre- 

 tion, either by a mucous membrane, or glandular apparatus. I am aware that 

 many jubstances have been called albumen by different chemists, which, as 

 Berzelius first showed, were not entitled to the name; as for example, the 

 mucus of the ^ ill bladder, which appears to possess many of its properties. But 

 this lb precipitated by acetic ac'd, even without heat. It cannot therefore be 

 albiiinr!-, !-ince it is well known that a solution of alhumen in acetic acid may be 

 boiled withiiut c.iagulation, and that prussiate of pnla-h precipitates it from this 

 slalF .if nol'.iti.ui, as was first shown, I believe, by the above mentioned excellent 

 chei"isl, Anim.ima also piecipita es allcimen from its solution in acetic acid; 

 bi'.t iliis h IE tlie di>auvantage of re-dissolving the pri-cipilafe, if added in excess. 

 I'enre acet" • acid and pru^siate of potas': may perhaps be considered as the best 

 tests of aibuM.en at present known. The phosph;iric acids, also, and, I believe, 

 )uu!>t of tiic otbcr vegetable acids, like the acetic, do not coagulate albumen. 



