COAGULATION OF THE WHITE. 205 



accidental poisoning by various irritant substances, 

 such as corrosive sublimate : coagulation immedi- 

 ately takes place around the particles of the poison, 

 which are thus effectually sheathed from the power 

 of producing further mischief, until by the opera- 

 tion of an emetic, or by the employment of the 

 pump, the dangerous substances are removed from 

 the stomach. In consequence of the specific 

 gravity of the albumen or white, with the yolk 

 which it envelops, a fresh egg invariably sinks 

 when placed in pure water. If, however, the 

 water is rendered saline, and particularly if it is 

 made a saturated solution, the egg will then float 

 in it. An egg, not new laid, will often float in 

 water, in consequence of the enlargement of the 

 air-chamber at the broad end, produced by the 

 loss of some of the watery contents of the egg by 

 evaporation. In putting an egg into boiling 

 water it will be noticed that a profusion of air 

 bubbles rise from it, which are expelled from 

 the shell, and perhaps in part from this air- 

 chamber. 



The air-receptacle has been frequently men- 

 tioned as being placed at the broader extremity of 

 the egg. The best method of seeing it is to take 



