SALIVA. 391 



The result of my analysis of a specimen of tartar, for which I 

 was indebted to Alexander Nasmyth, Esq., Dentist in Lon don 

 is as follows : 



Subsesquiphosphate of lime, . 65 '61 



Carbonate of lime, . 7*18 



Silica with trace of iron and perhaps magnesia, 1-32 

 Fixed alkaline chlorides, . 1*43 



Mucus and albumen, . 1O49 



Salivin, . . . 1-32 



Animal matter soluble in muriatic acid, . 6 '02 

 Water, . . . 6-63 



100-00 



The earthy salts were obtained by digesting the tartar in very 

 dilute muriatic acid. The acid being drawn off, was neutraliz- 

 ed and then mixed with caustic ammonia, which threw down the 

 calcareous phosphate. Oxalate of ammonia threw down the 

 lime left in solution. The residual liquid being evaporated to 

 dry ness and ignited, a chloride of potassium and sodium re- 

 mained, which, being dissolved, left a few black flocks, which, by 

 digestion in nitric acid, became brown, and before the blowpipe 

 exhibited the characters of silica tinged with iron. The bead with 

 carbonate of soda was opal. Hence I suspected the presence of 

 magnesia. 



The water was determined by heating a portion of the tartar 

 over the steam-bath till it ceased to lose weight. The tartar 

 being digested in water a portion was dissolved. The water be- 

 ing evaporated, the residue was white ; but became yellow when 

 heated, and ceased to be quite soluble. Hence (abstracting the 

 chlorides present) it was considered as salivin. The animal mat- 

 ter remaining after the tartar had been treated with muriatic 

 acid, water and alcohol was considered as mucus. I think it 

 probable that the animal matter dissolved in muriatic acid was 

 salivin ; but I did not succeed in getting it unaltered from that 

 solution, and could not therefore examine its properties. 



