2 



much worthier than myself of that distinction 

 amongst you, I shall avail myself of the present 

 opportunity to occupy the attention of the Aca- 

 demy with some historical remarks on a Science, 

 in which, by much labour and attention, I have 

 acquired some information and experience, viz. 

 the Chemistry of the Animal Body ; and I will 

 shortly relate the progress which it has made 

 during these latter years. The facts which have 

 been ascertained in this science are interesting, 

 and the knowledge of them useful to every one ; 

 although the science, in its detail, can only be 

 followed up by such as make this branch of 

 Chemistry their peculiar study. 



I shall not detain you with the history of 

 Animal Chemistry from remoter times; since the 



relation of the mistakes of our Forefathers, and 



i 



the slow progress which every science has made, 

 interesting as it may be in the history of man, is 

 of little or no consequence in examining the 

 present state of any particular science. 



Our forefathers began very early to explain 

 the phenomena of living nature, from observations 

 made upon inanimate matter : this gave rise to 

 particular Sects in medicine, which then, as now, 



