738 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1800. 



bodies, which of late have been particularly mentioned, appear to consist prin- 

 cipally of albumen, with sometimes the addition of gelatin in different proportions, 

 yet, as in certain membranes and such like substances, portions of muscular fibre 

 were at times found joined or interwoven ; and as muscle, ligament, and tendon, 

 seem to glide almost imperceptibly into each other, I was almost unavoidably in- 

 duced to make some experiments on muscular fibre. The muscular fibre on which 

 the greater part of these experiments was made, was that of beef; and in order 

 to separate the liquid albuminous part or lymph as much as possible, a quantity of 

 lean muscle of ox beef, cut into small thin pieces, was macerated 15 days in cold 

 water, and was subjected to pressure each day, when the water was changed. The 

 weather was very cold; and the maceration was continued to the end of the 15th 

 day, without any sign of putrescency. The shreds of muscle, amounting to about 

 3 lb., were then boiled with about 6 quarts of water, during 5 hours ; and, the 

 water being changed, the same was repeated every day, for 3 weeks ; at the end 

 of which time, the water afforded only slight signs of gelatin, when infusion of 

 oak-bark, or nitro-muriate of tin, was added. After this the fibrous part was 

 well pressed, and was dried by the heat of a water bath. 



Some of the muscular fibre thus prepared, was steeped in nitric acid diluted 

 with 3 measures of water, for 15 days. The acid acquired a yellow tinge, and 

 possessed all the properties of the nitric solutions of albumen. The fibre which 

 had been thus steeped in the acid, was, when washed, dissolved by boiling water, 

 and by evaporation became a gelatinous mass: which, being again dissolved in 

 boiling water, was precipitated by infusion of oak-bark, and, more slowly, by 

 nitro-muriate of tin, like the albuminous substances, when treated in a similar 

 manner. When the fibre which had been steeped in the acid was immersed in 

 ammonia, it was not completely dissolved, like albumen, but afforded a residuum, 

 which will soon be noticed. The greater part was, however thus dissolved ; and 

 formed a deep orange or yellowish brown solution, similar in properties to that of 

 albumen. When boiled with lixivium of caustic potash, this muscular fibre was 

 completely dissolved ; ammonia was discharged, and animal soap was formed; which 

 being diluted with water, and saturated with muriatic acid yielded a precipitate, 

 similar in every property to that which had been obtained from the animal 

 soaps formerly mentioned, excepting that it sooner became hard and glossy, when 

 exposed to the air*. Muscular fibre, when prepared as already mentioned, so as, 

 by long maceration and subsequent boiling with frequent change of water, to be 



* In respect to economical purposes, it may be proper here to observe, that all animal substances 

 whatever, exclusive of carbonate and phosphate of lime, may be converted into 2 substances of much 

 utility, namely, glue, under which term I include all the varieties mentioned in this paper, and soap, 

 with the additional advantage, that those parts which would be rejected in making the one, are the 

 most proper to prepare the other. The offensive smell of Chaptal's soap is considered as an objection j 

 but this may be removed, by exposing the soap for some time, in flat vessels, to the air ; after which, 

 it may be reduced to the proper degree of consistency, by a second boiling. — Ong. 



