LIQUOR OF THE AMNIOS. 



While the foetus is in the uterus, a curdy- like matter is de 

 posited on the surface of the skin and on particular parts of the 

 body. 



This matter is often found collected in considerable quantities. 

 It is evidently deposited from the liquor of the amnios, and of 

 course must exist in that liquor. It was subjected to a chemi- 

 cal examination by Vauquelin and Buniva, and also by From- 

 herz and Gugert. 



Its colour is white and brilliant, it has a soft feel, and very 

 much resembles new-made soap. It is insoluble in water, alco- 

 hol, and oils. Pure alkalies dissolve it partially, and convert it 

 into a kind of soap. On burning coals it decrepitates, becomes 

 dry and black, gives out oily vapours, and leaves a residue very 

 difficult to incinerate. From these properties Vauquelin and 

 Buniva were led to consider it as a kind of fat. 



Fromherz and Gugert digested it repeatedly in ether, and left 

 the ether to spontaneous evaporation. Brilliant white plates 

 were deposited, which had neither taste nor smell. They were 

 insoluble in water, but dissolved in boiling alcohol, and the so- 

 lution was neutral. They did not melt, though heated to 212, 

 and when decomposed no carbonate of ammonia was given off. 

 When boiled with potash ley this substance could not be convert- 

 ed into soap. Fromherz and Gugert consider it as cholesterin. 



The residue left by the ether was treated with cold water, and 

 as that substance did not seem to act, the water was raised to the 

 boiling temperature. The solution was yellowish and quite trans- 

 parent. Being evaporated to dryness the residue was insoluble 

 in alcohol. It had an alkaline reaction and possessed the cha- 

 racters of salivin. When incinerated it left a little carbonate of 

 soda. 



When the curdy matter is digested directly in water, without 

 being previously treated with ether, salivin and carbonate of so- 

 da are dissolved ; but no albumen. 



After the curdy matter has been treated with ether and boil- 

 ing water, a white flocky matter remains, which possesses the 

 following characters : When heated it gave out much carbonate 

 of ammonia. It was insoluble in alcohol, ether, and cold water. 

 When boiled about an hour in water a small portion of it was 

 dissolved. The solution was precipitated by infusion of nut-galls, 

 nitrate of silver, and protonitrate of mercury. Caustic alkali, 

 while cold, scarcely dissolves it ; but when it is boiled in dilute 



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