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clear solution, and not merely suspended in an 

 emulsion, and I have endeavoured to ascertain in 

 what it differs from albumen, which it otherwise 

 resembles, and with which SCHEELE compared 

 it. I have also proved, that milk does not con- 

 tain gelatine; and that the extractive matter, 

 which gives a brown colour to the sugar of milk, 

 resembles what occurs in the humours of the 

 muscular parts and in urine, and consists of lac- 

 tic acid, and alkaline muriates and lactates, toge- 

 ther with the extractive animal matter, which is 

 soluble in alcohol. I have examined the greater 

 part of the lactates, and have proved, as I hope, 

 beyond contradiction, that the acid cannot be 

 either the acetic, or any other vegetable acid, 

 but is a peculiar and very remarkable acid, 

 which occurs in the economy of the animal body, 

 and for which I have retained the name of lactic 

 acid, which it received from its discoverer, al- 

 though it is found in greater or less quantity, as 

 well in the juices of the muscular flesh, as in urine ; 

 and I have thereby restored to our illustrious coun- 

 tryman SCHEELE, the singular honour of never 

 having advanced an erroneous statement relating 

 to the Science of Chemistry. 



