Chap. 2.] Lymph or Serum. 83 



duced to a pound and an half 5 after which the mafr, 

 was urged with a graduated fire, till the retort at laft 

 became red hot* The produce was feventeen ounces 

 of liquor, twelve of which were a red and very empy- 

 feumatic volatile and alkaline fluid, and the other' five 

 Were oil. What remained in the retort was a light 

 Coal, weighing four ounces and a half. 



It has been already mentioned that blood fponta- 

 neoufly feparates into two parts, a coherent mafs called 

 the craffamenturri, and an aqueous liquor called the 

 ierum, with which the crafTamentum is furrounded. 



Lymph or ferum, which is alfo called the albumi- 

 nous matter, from its coagulating into a white mafs by 

 the application of a heat equal to 1 56 degrees of Faren- 

 heit/s thermometer, is very analogous td the white of 

 egg. Serum is alfo coagulated by acids and by ardent 

 fpirit ; alkalies render it more fluid. It converts fyrup 

 of violets to a green. Its colour is yellowilh, inclining 

 to green j its tafte is faline, and it feels between the 

 fingers in fome degree un<5tuous and adbefive. By 

 diftillation it affords the fame principles as animal 

 matters in generah 



Serum, expofed to a warm temperature in the open 

 air paffes quickly to putrefaction. It unites with water 

 in all proportions, but they are kept feparate by their 

 different denfities, unlefs agitated together* Serum 

 poured into boiling water for the moil part coagulates 

 inftantly. The coagulation formed in ferum by the 

 addition of an acid, diffolves very quickly in volatile 

 alkali, which is the true folvent of the albuminous 

 part ; but it is not at all foluble in pure Water. The 

 coagulation formed by fpirit of wine, on the contrary, 

 is foiuble in water, as M. Bucquet has difcovered. 

 This liquid, M. Fourcroy concludes, is an animal 

 mucilage, compofed of water, acidifiable oily bafes, 

 G 2 marine 



