ROE OF FISHES. 457 



He digested sixty-four grammes of the roe in successive por- 

 tions of water as long as the liquor dissolved anything, The 

 water being heated deposited flocks, which, being collected on a 

 filter and dried, was gray, and dissolved completely in caustic po- 

 tash. From this solution it was precipitated in white flocks by 

 tincture of nut-galls. When distilled per se, it furnished an oily 

 and very alkaline liquor,, having a fetid odour. The residual 

 charcoal being incinerated, left a small quantity of white ash, 

 which had an alkaline reaction. It consisted of carbonate of potash, 

 phosphate of potash, and phosphate of lime. The flocks were ob- 

 viously coagulated albumen, mixed with the above-named salts. 



The liquid from which the albumen had separated being eva- 

 porated to dryness, left a yellowish-brown extract, having a dis- 

 tinct flavour of beef-tea. When treated with strong alcohol, it 

 only partially dissolved. The alcoholic solution, being mixed 

 with water, was abundantly precipitated by tincture of nut-galls, 

 acetate of lead, and nitrate of mercury. When evaporated, it 

 left a yellowish residue soluble in water and in alcohol. From 

 these characters, Morin considered the substance to contain os- 

 mazome. When triturated with potash, it gave out a strong 

 smell of ammonia, which he conceived to exist in the state of sal- 

 ammoniac. When burnt it left a white ash soluble in water, and 

 containing carbonate of soda and chloride of potassium. 



The portion of the extract left by the alcohol was totally so- 

 luble in water. The solution was precipitated in yellow flocks 

 by tincture of nut-galls. The mineral acids occasioned no change 

 in it. Morin considered it as gelatin. When heated it swelled 

 up, gave out an animal odour, and left a white alkaline ash con- 

 sisting of carbonate of soda and phosphate of lime. 



The roe, which had been treated with water, was digested in 

 hot alcohol. The filtered alcoholic solution was yellowish and 

 muddy. When evaporated it left a yellow oil, having a fish 

 smell and soluble in ether. It was identical with the oil extract- 

 ed by Vauquelin from the roe of the pike. When burnt it left 

 a minute quantity of phosphoric acid. 



The 'residue of roe treated with water and alcohol, had the ap- 

 pearance of indurated albumen. It dissolved in caustic potash 

 without giving out any ammonia. Muriatic acid dropt into the 

 solution threw down white flocks soluble in an excess of acid. 

 Heated in a platinum crucible, it left a charcoal difficult to inci- 



