ANIMAL AMIDES. 



1 atom phosphorus, 2-00 ... 0-36 



2 atoms sulphur, = 4-00 ... 0-72 



552-25 100- 



Still more lately albumen has been subjected to a careful 

 analysis by Dr Scherer in Liebig's laboratory.* He analyzed 

 albumen from blood, from eggs, from the liquor of a hydrocele, 

 and from pus. The result came so near those of Mulder, that 

 it seems unnecessary to state them. It has been already stated, 

 that his formula for protein is C 48 H 36 Az 6 O 14 . It differs from 

 that of Mulder only by an atom of hydrogen. In the present 

 state of our knowledge, it is difficult, if not impossible, to decide 

 which of the two formulas is nearest the truth. 



It is evident from the analyses that the chemical constitution 

 of albumen from the egg and from serum is identical. Yet re- 

 agents do not in all cases produce the same effect upon each. 

 Chevreul informs us, that ether and oil of turpentine coagulate 

 white of egg, while, according to Tiedemann and Gmelin, they 

 do not produce the same effect on the serum of blood. 



SECTION II. OF ALBUMEN FROM SILK, 



This. substance was first particularly examined by M. Mulder 

 in 1836. He obtained it by the following process. 



Silk was treated with boiling water till every thing soluble in 

 that liquid was taken up. The aqueous solution was evaporated 

 to dryness and the residue digested in alcohol and ether. The 

 matter not acted upon by these liquids was a mixture of coagu- 

 lated albumen and gelatin. Boiling water dissolved the latter 

 substance and left the albumen in a state of purity. 



It is brittle, easily reduced to powder, and heavier than water. 

 When placed on a hot iron it is charred and emits the smell of 

 burning horn. It burns with flame, leaving a large quantity of 

 white ashes. When distilled per se it gives out much carbonate 

 of ammonia and empyreumatic oil. A dry portion of it being 

 left for 24 hours in concentrated sulphuric acid remained unal- 

 tered. But when heat was applied it was charred with the evo- 

 lution of sulphurous acid gas. Moist albumen dissolves in sul- 

 phuric acid at the common temperature of the atmosphere. In 

 dilute sulphuric acid it is not soluble even when heat is applied 



* Ann. de Pharra. xl. 36. 



