HISTORY OF GEINE. 85 



the end of all compost heaps, to produce soluble 

 geine — no matter how compound our chemistry may 

 teach this substance to be." 



These are probably, modifications of one princi- 

 ple, differing not so much in their physical proper- 

 ties, as do fibrin, albumen, and casein, or flesh, 

 white of eggs, and curd of milk. These are identi- 

 cal in composition, modifications of a common prin- 

 ciple to which the name, protein, is given, and upon 

 whose chemical formula, 'there is as great a difference 

 of opinion, as upon geine. New facts are wanting. 

 The several organic principles of soil are probably 

 oxides of a peculiar base or radicle, to whose sev- 

 eral modifications, the term geine, may like the term 

 protein, be applied. These modifications, may be 

 found, even when fully known, to affect the practice 

 of agriculture, as little, as did the true chemistry of 

 oil and fat, affect soap making ; indeed it is proba- 

 ble that geine, will be found to approach the fatty 

 bodies. 



Unless, therefore, better reasons for a change of 

 name are offered, than have yet appeared, the name 

 geine will still be retained. 



