. II. IMBIBITION OF DIFFERENT LIQUIDS. 35 



slower until it ultimately ceased. Each tube was plunged 

 into its liquid to a depth of about J centimetre [about I of 

 an English inch ;] and in order that this depth should re- 

 main constant, we added, from time to time, more liquid. 



The following are the greatest heights to which the 

 different liquids rose. All the saline solutions were of 

 the same density, viz. 10 of Baume's areometer [sp. gr. 

 1-075.] 



Millim. 



Solution of carbonate of potash - 85 



Solution of sulphate of copper - - 75 



Serum of blood 70 



Solution of carbonate of ammonia - 62 



Distilled water ----- 60 



Solution of common salt 58 

 White of egg, diluted with its own volume 



of water 35 



Milk - 55 



This table shows how much imbibition differs in the case 

 of different liquids : in solutions thickened with gum, with 

 boiled starch or with oil, scarcely any imbibition takes place; 

 and it is also very feeble in concentrated saline solutions 

 and in all liquids holding very finely divided particles of 

 solid matter in suspension. In the latter case it effects a 

 kind of nitration. This phenomenon of imbibition may, in 

 the case of solutions holding in suspension very finely 

 divided molecules of solid matter, be very valuable for 

 ascertaining the different properties of the blood according 

 to its density. In fact, in certain maladies, its density and 

 its viscidity aj?e much diminished; and in these cases serous 

 infiltrations take place, as they do also, for the same reasons, 

 after profuse sanguineous discharges. We shall hereafter 

 find that alcohol, ether, water, &c., as well as aqueous solu- 



