WATER: POTASH; SODA. ij 



different structures or tissues in the muscles ; tlie gelatin 

 may be referred principally to the cellular tissue between 

 the fibres, the fatty matter to the adipose tissue in the 

 same position, and part of the albumen to the blood and 

 the fluid by which the tissue is kept moist. But, beyond 

 these general statements, little can be said of the mode in 

 which the chemical compounds are united to form an 

 organized structure ; or of how, in any organic body, the 

 several incidental substances are combined with those 

 which are essential. 



The inorganic matters which exist as such in the human 

 body are numerous. 



Water forms a large proportion, probably more than 

 two-thirds of the weight of the whole body. 



Phosphorus occurs in combination, as in the neutral 

 phosphate of sodium in the blood and saliva, the acid 

 phosphates of the muscles and urine, the basic phosphates 

 of calcium and magnesium in the bones and teeth. 



Sulphur is present chiefly in the stilphocyanide of potas- 

 sium of the saliva, and in the sulphates of the urine and 

 sweat. 



A very small quantity of silica exists, according to 

 Berzelius, in the urine, and, according to others, in the 

 blood. Traces of it have also been found in bones, in hair, 

 and in some other parts of the body. 



Chlorine is abundant in combination with sodium, potas- 

 sium, and other bases in all parts, fluid as well as solid, of 

 the body. A minute quantity of fluorine in combination 

 with calcium has been found in the bones, teeth, and 

 urine. 



Potassium and sodium are constituents of the blood and 

 all the fluids, in various quantities and proportions. They 

 exist in the form of chlorides, sulphates, and phosphates, 

 and probably, also, in combination with albumen, or certain 

 organic acids. Liebig, in his work on the Chemistry of 

 Food, has shown that the juice expressed from muscular 



