ON ANIMAL MATTER. 85 



deposits, in putrefaction, a sediment resembling well-digested 

 pus, and changes to a faint olive-green. A serum so far 

 putrefied as to become green, is frequently to be found in 

 parts that are bruised, and in gangrene. In dead bodies this 

 serum is to be distinguished by the green color the flesh 

 acquires in corrupting. In salted meat, this is commonly 

 ascribed to the brine, but erroneously ; for it is known to 

 resist putrefaction. It has no power of giving this color, but 

 only of qualifying the taste, and in some degree, the ill effects 

 of corrupted aliments. In foul ulcers, or in other sores 

 where the serum is exposed, the matter is likewise found of 

 this color, and is then always acrimonious. The putrefac- 

 tion of animal substances is prevented, or retarded, by most 

 saline matters ; even by the fixed and volatile alkaline salts, 

 which have often been supposed to produce a contrary effect. 

 Of all the salts that have been tried, sea salt seems to resist 

 putrefaction the least ; in small quantities it even accelerates 

 the process. The vegetable bitters, such as balmony, gen- 

 tian, &c, charcoal, cayenne, gum myrrh, &c., are among the 

 best antiseptics, not only for preserving the flesh long uncor- 

 rupted, but likewise correcting it, in a measure, when putrid. 

 It has been found, that when animal flesh in substance is 

 beaten up with bread, or other farinaceous vegetables, and a 

 proper quantity of water, into the consistence of paste, this 

 mixture, kept in a heat equal to that of the human body, 

 grows in a little time sour ; while the vegetable matters, with- 

 out the flesh, suffer no change. Some few vegetables, in the 

 resolution of them by fire, discover some agreement in their 

 matter with bodies of the animal kingdom ; yielding a vola- 

 tile alkaline salt in considerable quantity, with little or 

 nothing of the acid of fixed alkali, which the generality of 

 vegetables afford. 



