were doomed to see their theories overturned 

 by experience. The very intricate composition 

 of animal matter, and the innumerable produc- 

 tions which, in various ways, may be obtained 

 from it, made it almost impossible, in the infancy 

 of chemical knowledge, to produce any accurate 

 analysis of it. It was not till after the discoveries 

 of a BLACK, and the lucid explanation of such 

 phenomena, as before his time \vere either 

 unknown or misunderstood. It was not till 

 after the reiterated and solid experiments, of 

 SCHEELE, and of PRIESTLEY, and the establish- 

 ment of the new theory, which LAVOISIER, as- 

 sisted by the labours of these predecessors, had 

 given to chemical science, that it was possible 

 to begin the examination of the interior ceconomy 

 of the animal body with any hope of success. 

 The facts, discovered by BLACK and LAVOISIER, 

 were now applied to Animal Chemistry, some- 

 times, it is true, with good effect, but often with 

 greater confidence in the general application of 

 the new doctrine, than experience afterwards 

 sanctioned. In this manner, the first scattered 

 Works were produced on this subject, the ag- 

 gregate information of which, constituted the 

 still new and infant Science of Animal Che- 

 mistry. 



