VOMITUS. 395 



matter in solution, becoming opaque and flocculent when boiled, 

 and giving a very copious precipitate with infusion of galls. 

 It also precipitated nitrate of silver densely, and, when evapo- 

 rated to dryness and exposed to a full red heat in a platinum 

 crucible, left an ash containing much chloride of sodium. It 

 reddened litmus powerfully, and effervesced sharply with alkaline 

 carbonates. It continued strongly acid after being twice dis- 

 tilled, and did not precipitate nitrate of silver, but retained the 

 sour smell, which could now be recognized as identical with 

 that of vinegar. On neutralizing the twice distilled fluid with 

 lime-water, and evaporating to dryness, a salt was obtained, 

 which, on being decomposed in a tube-retort with sulphuric 

 acid, yielded a volatile odorous acid, readily identified by seve- 

 ral tests with the acetic. 



It was found by several trials, that, on an average, an ounce 

 of the liquid neutralized 0'4 grain of carbonate of potash ; a 

 quart (32 oz.) would therefore neutralize 12' 8 grains, which cor- 

 respond to 9 grains of the hydrated (crystallizable) acetic acid, 

 C 4 H 3 O 3 + HO. The liquid remaining in the retort continued 

 to redden litmus powerfully after all the acetic acid had been 

 distilled from it. This was traced in part to the presence of a 

 small quantity of free hydrochloric acid; but it was chiefly 

 owing to the existence in the liquid of a considerable proportion 

 of lactic acid. The most remarkable feature of this case, in a 

 chemical point of view, was the large quantity of acetic acid 

 found; the quantity of liquid ejected at once by the patient 

 often amounted to more than two quarts, which would contain 

 18 grains of acetic acid. In Mr. Bell's case the chemical cha- 

 racters of the liquid were very similar. An additional point 

 was, however, ascertained, namely, the presence of free carbonic 

 acid in the liquid.] 



