262 ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, &C. 



Vital and Chemical Affinity. 



Organized bodies, animal and vegetable, are alone 

 subject to putridity, to which inorganic substances are 

 in no degree liable, the latter not being compounded 

 according to the laws of vital affinity, but to those of 

 chemical affinity. The resolution of pyrites (sulphu- 

 ret of iron) in atmospheric air, is not putrefaction. 



Elements of Animal Matter. 



Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (or azote,) 

 are the principal ultimate elements of animal matter ; 

 phosphorus and sulphur are also frequently con- 

 tained in it. The presence of nitrogen constitutes the 

 most striking peculiarity of animal, as compared with 

 vegetable bodies; but as some vegetables contain 

 nitrogen, so there are also certain animal principles 

 into the composition of which it does not enter. 



As vegetables abound in oxygen, they have a ten- 

 dency after death to become acid, by its new combi- 

 nations with carbon and hydrogen; whereas the soft 

 parts of animals, after death, are disposed to become 

 alkaline, the azote entering into new combinations 

 with hydrogen, and forming ammonia. 



Gouty Concretions. 



There is a great analogy between urinary and 

 gouty concretions. The latter have been discovered, 

 by Dr. Wollaston, to consist of uric acid in combina- 

 tion with soda. 



Colour. 



The radical colours of the human family are inde- 

 pendent of climate. 



The result of a variety of dissections appears to 

 have established the fact, that there is in the Negro, 

 Caffre, and Malay, a black membrane interposed be- 

 tween the epidermis and true skin, upon which the 



