VERNIX CASEOSA. 365 



retentive of water. It required ten hours' exposure over the 

 steam-bath, to expel from eight grains the whole of the water 

 belonging to it, when it was reduced to 1*77 grain. A spe- 

 cimen of great purity taken from a healthy infant immediately 

 after birth was found to consist of : 



Water . . . 77-87 



Olein . . . 5-75 



Margarin . . 3'13 



Epithelium-scales . . 13-25 



100-00 



" A portion of the same was incinerated : it burned with a 

 bright flame and left a very small quantity of white ash, 

 hardly ^th of a grain, although 40 grains was the quantity con- 

 sumed, weighed before drying. This ash, in a drop of dilute 

 muriatic acid, dissolved, emitting a distinct smell of sulphuretted 

 hydrogen ; and the solution was clouded by adding a little am- 

 monia, indicating the presence of a minute portion of phosphate 

 of lime and sulphur the latter in union probably with lime or 

 potash."] 



