326 EREMACAUSIS OR DECAY. 



to be formed in a manner similar to the formation of 

 acetic acid, by the eremacausis of saliculite of pot- 

 ash.^ 



An alkaline solution of hsematin being exposed to 

 an atmosphere of oxygen, 0*2 grm. absorb 28*6 cubic 

 centimeters of oxygen gas in twenty-four hours, the 

 alkali acquiring at the same time 6 cubic centimeters 

 of carbonic acid. (Chevreul.) But these 6 cubic 

 centimeters of carbonic acid contain only an equal 

 volume of oxygen, so that it is certain from this ex- 

 periment, that I of the oxygen absorbed have not 

 united with the carbon. It is highly probable, that 

 during the oxidation of the hydrogen, a portion of 

 the carbon had united with the oxygen contained in 

 the hsematin, and had separated from the other ele- 

 ments as carbonic acid. 



The experiments of De Saussure upon the decay 

 of woody fibre show, that such a separation is quite 

 possible. Moist woody fibre evolved one volume of 

 carbonic acid for every volume of oxygen w^hich it 

 absorbed. It has just been mentioned, that carbonic 

 acid contains its own volume of oxygen. Now, 

 woody fibre contains carbon and the elements of 

 water, so that the result of the action of oxygen 

 upon it is exactly the same as if pure charcoal had 

 combined directly with oxygen. But the characters 

 of woody fibre show, that the elements of water are 

 not contained in it in the form of water ; for, were 

 this the case, starch, sugar, and gum must also be 

 considered as hydrates of carbon. 



But if the hydrogen does not exist in woody fibre 

 in the form of water, the direct oxidation of the car- 

 bon cannot be considered as at all probable, without 

 rejecting all the facts established by experiment re- 

 garding the process of combustion at low tempera- 

 tures. 



* This salt, when exposed to a moist atmosphere, ahsorbs 3 atoms of 

 oxygen; melanic acid is produced, a body resembling humus, in conse- 

 quence of the formation of which, the elements of 1 atom of acetic acid 

 are separated from the saliculous acid. — L. 



