81 



The composition of cartilage is exactly the 

 same as that of the cartilage contained in bones. 

 It is dissolved by being boiled in water, and is 

 changed to a glue, its veins and nerves remaining* 

 undissolved. 



The Stnovia, contained in the joints between 

 the bones, has been examined by MARGUERON, 

 a Frenchman. It seems to be almost completely 

 serum, which has retained its portion of fibrin, 

 for it coagulates in atmospheric air : this co- 

 ngulum, however, i not coloured, and the rest 

 is entirely similar to the fluid in coagulated 

 blood. When MARGEURON stated the proper- 

 ties of fibrin in this humour to be 12 p, c. he 

 weighed it, most probably, in that moist state 

 in which it is found on coagulation. This fibrin 

 has not altogether the same properties as the fi- 

 brin of the blood, but from his analysis no very 

 precise knowledge of the difference can be de- 

 rived. FOURCROY seemed to think that it was 

 uric acid, for which opinion there appears to be 

 no other reason, than that gouty concretions, 

 which consist of urate of soda, are sometimes 

 formed near the joints, and obstruct their motion. 



The Muscles, (or what is ' generally termed 

 flesh) have been less examined than oth ?r animal 



