116 COMPOSITION OF PROTEINE. 



differ. The practice of medicine has furnished the most 

 beautiful and interesting observations on the action of 

 empyreumatic substances, such as wood, vinegar, creo- 

 sote, &c., on malignant wounds and ulcers. In such mor- 

 bid phenomena two actions are going on together ; one 

 metamorphosis, which strives to complete 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 sub- 

 stances ; and this effect is precisely opposed to the 

 poisonous influence exercised on the organism by pu- 

 trefying blood when introduced into a fresh wound. 



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

 accurately expresses the composition of proteine, 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 phosphorus ; albumen and fibrine con- 

 tain both these substances chemically combined, the 

 former more sulphur 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 

 oxidized state. All these substances, when heated 

 with a moderately strong solution of potash, yield the 

 sulphur which we find in the solution as sulphuret of 

 potassium ; and, on the addition of an acid, it is given 

 off as sulphuretted hydrogen. When pure fibrine, or 

 ordinary albumen is dissolved in a weak solution of 



* For the method of converting this and other formulee into pro- 

 portions per cent, see Appendix. 



