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not fail to illustrate that particular point, which attracts and most 

 deservedly claims our attention. 



The discovery to which I allude is one which plainly manifests, 

 that, by the operations of natural chemistry, certain modifications 

 of the principles of bodies take place, by which substances are 

 formed resembling, in a great measure, the highly elaborated se- 

 cretions of an animal body. The illustrious Bacon had declared, 

 that pieces of flesh might be converted to a fatty substance by the 

 help of maceration in water. Fourcroy discovered, and his disco- 

 very has been confirmed and illustrated by the observations and 

 experiments of several learned and ingenious men in this country, 

 that the muscular parts of animals, after being buried some time 

 where water can have access to them, are changed into a peculiar 

 fatty substance, nearly resembling, in many respects, spermaceti ; 

 and to which substance he has given the name of adipocire. 



Thus we perceive that dead animal matter may by a process 

 carried on in the mineral kingdom, be converted to a totally diffe- 

 rent substance, and to one approximating, in its appearance and 

 nature, to another kind of animal matter, the product of a secre- 

 tory organization. To repeat the numerous experiments by which 

 this has been fully ascertained, would be here out of place. The 

 fact is incontrovertible, and confirms, by analogy, the opinion, 

 that the organized matters of vegetables are likewise susceptible 

 of a correspondent change, if placed under appropriate circum- 

 stances. 



Another substance, found among the peat, requires also to be 

 spoken of, particularly in this place ; since it appears to me* that 

 the ambiguity which obscures its origin is likely to be best 

 removed, by the discovery to which I have just called your atten- 

 tion. 



This substance has been hitherto called Mineral Tallow, and is 

 thus spoken of by our justly celebrated mineralogist, Mr. Kir wan; 



