10 ACTION OF SALT, OIL, AND ALCOHOL 



Effects of Animal membranes do not acquire, by absorbing 

 &c. on ' alcohol or oil, those properties which they exhibit 



membranes _ . 



when dry, when saturated with water. A dried bladder con- 

 tinues hard and brittle in alcohol and oil ; its flexi- 

 bility is in no degree increased by absorbing these 

 liquids. When tendons, ligaments (CHEVREUL), the 

 yellow ligaments of the spine, or bladder, saturated 

 with oil, are placed in water, the oil is completely 

 expelled, and they take up as much water as if they 

 had not previously been in contact with oil. 

 and when in It has been mentioned, that 100 parts of animal 

 state? " membrane (dry ox-bladder) absorb in 24 hours 268, 

 in 48 hours 310 volumes of water, and only 133 of 

 saturated solution of salt. It follows, of course, that 

 when the bladder, saturated with water by 48 hours' 

 contact, and well dried in bibulous paper, without 

 pressure, to remove superfluous water, is strewed 

 with salt, there is formed, at all points where salt 

 comes in contact with the water filling the open 

 pores, a saturated solution of salt, the salt contained 

 in which diffuses itself equally in the water of the 

 bladder. Of the 310 volumes of water which be- 

 come thus saturated with salt, only 133 volumes are 

 retained in the bladder ; and in consequence of this 

 diminution of the absorbent power of the bladder 

 for the brine, 177 volumes of liquid are expelled, and 

 run off in drops from the surface of the bladder. 



Membranes, fibrine, or a mass of flesh, behave 

 exactly in a similar manner when in contact with 

 alcohol. If placed in alcohol in the fresh state, 



