COMPOSITION OF PROTEINE. 121 



then the putrefaction of animal matters out of the 

 body is a division into simpler compounds, in which 

 the vital force takes no share. The action in both 

 cases is the same, only the products differ. The 

 practice of medicine has furnished the most beau- 

 tiful and interesting observations on the action of 

 empyreumatic substances, such as wood, vinegar, 

 creosote, &c., on malignant wounds and ulcers. In 

 such morbid phenomena two actions are going on 

 together ; one metamorphosis, which strives to com- 

 plete itself under the influence of the vital force, 

 and another, independent of that force. The latter 

 is a chemical process, which is entirely suppressed 

 or arrested by empyreumatic substances ; and this 

 effect is precisely opposed to the poisonous influence 

 exercised on the organism by putrefying blood when 

 introduced into a fresh wound. 



14. The formula C 48 H 36 N 6 14 * is that which 

 most accurately expresses the composition of pro- 

 teine, or the relative proportions of the organic 

 elements in the blood, as ascertained by analysis. 

 Albumen, fibrine, and caseine contain proteine ; 

 caseine contains, besides, sulphur, but no phospho- 

 rus ; albumen and fibrine contain both these sub- 

 stances chemically combined the former more sul- 

 phur than the latter. We cannot directly ascertain 

 in what form the phosphorus exists, but we have 

 decided proof that the sulphur cannot be in. the 



* For the method of converting this and other formulae into 

 proportions per cent, see Appendix. 



