VOL. LXXX.] I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 7J7 



collected in globules, irregularly distributed over the interior surface of the jar. 

 These globules were nearly of a solid consistence. When the jar was removed 

 from the mercury, the air contained in it at first smelled strongly of volatile 

 alkali. After a little time the smell of the alkali disappeared, and the odour of 

 empyreumatic oil was distinctly perceived. A small quantity of distilled water, 

 which was now agitated in the jar, acquired a brown colour, but did not entirely 

 dissolve the viscid substance that adhered to its surface. The water, thus co- 

 loured, was divided into 2 portions. To one of these was added a little strong 

 vitriolic acid, by which the smell was exalted, and a slight effervescence was pro- 

 duced. Concentrated nitrous acid being added to the other portion, the smell 

 and colour were destroyed, and a brisk effervescence took place. 



When a portion of the solid substance that adhered to the interior surface of 

 the jar was separated, it felt viscid and adhesive between the fingers, and smelled 

 strongly of empyreumatic oil. A little spirit of wine being introduced into the 

 jar, this viscid substance was dissolved ; the spirit acquired a yellow colour and 

 empyreumatic smell, and on adding to it distilled water the mixture became 

 whitish and slightly turbid. 



Dr. C. next examined the air extricated from putrid veal by distillation. A 

 portion of the latter substance being introduced into a coated glass retort was 

 exposed to a red heat, and the air disengaged was received in a jar over mercury. 

 This aerial fluid was found to possess nearly the same properties with that which 

 was obtained in the preceding experiments. It was very inflammable ; about 4- 

 of it was soluble in distilled water. The water, thus impregnated, became 

 turbid on the addition of nitrated silver, and a brown precipitate fell to the 

 bottom. To another portion of distilled water saturated with this fluid, dephlo- 

 gisticated marine acid being added, the fetid smell was destroyed, a brisk effer- 

 vescence took place, and a whitish gelatinous substance was separated. This 

 substance being evaporated to dryness, became black on the addition of concen- 

 trated vitriolic acid. When a quantity of the air obtained in the experiment was 

 agitated with distilled water till no more was absorbed, the residue took fire on 

 the application of an ignited body, and burned with a lambent flame. The air 

 extricated from the putrid veal had less of the empyreumatic smell than that 

 which was disengaged from fresh animal substances. Its odour indeed was nearly 

 similar to that of animal substances in a state of putrefaction. 



We learn from these experiments that the aerial fluids, which are extricated 

 from fresh as well as from putrid animal substances by distillation, have nearly 

 the same properties with that which is disengaged, by a similar process from the 

 matter of cancer. Each of them appears to consist of 1 distinct fluids ; one of 

 which is soluble, and the other insoluble, in water. The portion that is insolu- 

 ble burns with a lambent flame, and has all the characters of heavy inflammable 



