OF BODIES CONTAINING NITROGEN. 309 



are found in animal bodies, do not enter into a state 

 of putrefaction when dry. 



The result of the known transformations of azo- 

 tized substances proves, that the water does not 

 merely act as a medium in which motion is permitted 

 to the elements in the act of transposition, but that 

 its influence depends on chemical affinity. When 

 the decomposition of such substances is effected 

 with the assistance of water, their nitrogen is in- 

 variably liberated in the form of ammonia. This is 

 a fixed rule without any exceptions, whatever may be 

 the cause w^hich produces the decompositions. All 

 organic compounds containing nitrogen, evolve the 

 whole of that element in the form of ammonia when 

 acted on by alkalies. Acids, and increase of tempera- 

 ture, produce the same effect. It is only when there is 

 a deficiency of water or its elements, that cyanogen 

 or other azotized compounds are produced. 



From these facts it may be concluded, that am- 

 monia is the most stable compound of nitrogen ; and 

 that hydrogen and nitrogen possess a degree of 

 affinity for each other surpassing the attraction of 

 the latter body for any other element. 



Already, in considering the transformations of sub- 

 stances destitute of nitrogen, we have recognised 

 the great affinity of carbon for oxygen as a power- 

 ful cause for effecting the disunion of the elements 

 of a complex organic atom in a definite manner. But 

 carbon is also invariably contained in azotized or- 

 ganic compounds, while the great affinity of nitrogen 

 for hydrogen furnishes a new and powerful cause, 

 facilitating the transposition of their component 

 parts. Thus, in the bodies which do not contain 

 nitrogen we have one element, and in those in which 

 that substance is present, two elements, which mutu- 

 ally share the elements of water. Hence there are 

 two opposite affinities at play, which mutually 

 strengthen each other's action. 



Now we know, that the most pow^erful attractions 

 may be overcome by the influence of two affinities. 



