380 POISONS, CONTAGIONS, MIASMS. 



placed in contact with one another, mutually de- 

 compose each other. Their constituents arrange 

 themselves in a peculiar manner, so as to form new 

 combinations ; a complex atom dividing into two or 

 more atoms of less complex constitution, in conse- 

 quence of a mere disturbance in the attraction of 

 their elements. 



The white constituents of the almonds and mus- 

 tard which resemble coagulated albumen, must be 

 in a peculiar state in order to exert their action 

 upon amygdalin, and upon those constituents of 

 mustard from which the volatile pungent oil is 

 produced. If almonds, after being blanched and 

 pounded, are thrown into boiling water, or 

 treated with hot alcohol, with mineral acids, or 

 with salts of. mercury, their power to effect a 

 decomposition in amygdalin is completely des- 

 troyed. Synaptas is an azotised body which cannot 

 be preserved when dissolved in water. Its solu- 

 tion becomes rapidly turbid, deposits a white pre- 

 cipitate, and acquires the offensive smell of putre- 

 fying bodies. 



It is exceedingly probable that the peculiar state 

 of transposition into which the elements of syna- 

 ptas are thrown when dissolved in water, may be 

 the cause of the decomposition of amygdalin, and 

 formation of the new products arising from it. The 

 action of synaptas in this respect is very similar to 

 that of rennet upon sugar. 



Malt, and the germinating seeds of corn in 



