VOL. XLVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 73 



Continuation of the Experiments on Substances Resisting Putrefaction. By John 

 Pringle, M.D., F.R.S. N° 496, p. 525. 



I . Three pieces of the lean of fresh beef, each weighing 2 drs. were put se- 

 parately into wide mouthed phials. Two ounces of cistern-water were added to 

 each ; in one were dissolved 30 grs. of sea-salt ; in another 60 ; but the 3d con- 

 tained nothing but flesh and water. These bottles were little more than half 

 full ; and, being corked, were placed in a lamp furnace, regulated by a ther- 

 mometer, and kept about the degree of human heat. 



About 10 or 12 hours after, the contents of the phial without salt had a faint 

 smell ; and in 3 or 4 hours more were putrid.* In an hour or 2 longer the 

 flesh with the least salt was tainted ; but that which had most, remained sweet 

 above 30 hours after infusion. This experiment was often repeated with the 

 same result, making allowance for variations of the degree of heat. 



The use of this experiment was for making standards, forjudging of the septic 

 or antiseptic strength of bodies. Thus, if water with any ingredient preserved 

 flesh better than without it, or better than with the additions of the salt, that 

 ingredient might be said to resist putrefaction more than water alone, or with 30 

 or 60 grs, of sea-salt. But if, on the other hand, water, with any addition, 

 promoted corruption more than when pure, the substance added was to be 

 reckoned a septic, or hastener of putrefaction. 



The following experiments were therefore all made in the same degree of heat 

 with the quantity of flesh, water, and air, as above specified; together with such 

 septic or antiseptic substances, as afterwards mentioned, and were all compared 

 with the standards. But whereas the least quantity of salt preserved flesh little 

 longer than plain water. Dr. P. always compared the several antiseptic bodies 

 with the greatest quantity of salt ; so that whenever any substance is said to 

 oppose putrefaction more than the standard, he means more than 60 grs. of 

 sea-salt. 



He began with examining other salts, and compared them in the same quan- • 

 tity with the standard ; which being of all the weakest, he supposed it equal to 

 unity, and expressed the proportional strength of the rest in higher numbers in 

 the following table. 



A Table of the Comparative Powers of Salts in resisting Putrefaction. 



Sea-salt 1 Tartar, vitriolated 2 



Sal gemmae. 1 -|- Spiritus mindereri 2 



• It is to be observed, that these pieces were all entire ; but when they are beat to the consistence 

 of a pap, with the same quantity of water, the putrefaction then begins in less than half the time 

 mentioned here. — Orig. 



VOL. X. L 



