1 36 ORIGIN OF GELATINE. 



but if we assume the formula to be correct, it then ap- 

 pears, from the statement just given, that the elements 

 of two atoms of proteine, plus the nitrogenized products 

 of the transformation of a third atom of proteine (uric 

 acid and urea) and water ; or three atoms of proteine, 

 minus the elements of a compound containing no nitro- 

 gen, which actually occurs as one of the products of 

 the transformation of choleic acid, yield in both cases a 

 formula closely approaching to the composition of gela- 

 tinous tissues. We must, however, attach to such for- 

 mulae, and to the considerations arising from them, no 

 more importance than justly belongs to them. I would 

 constantly remind the reader, that their use is to serve 

 as points of connexion, which may enable us to acquire 

 more accurate views as to the production and decompo- 

 sition of those compounds which form the animal tissues. 

 They are the first attempts to discover the path which 

 we must follow in order to attain the object of our re- 

 searches ; and this object, the goal we strive to reach, 

 is, and must be, attainable. 



The experience of all those, who have occupied 

 themselves with researches into natural phenomena leads 

 to this general result, that these phenomena are caused, 

 or produced, by means far more simple than was previ- 

 ously supposed, or than we even now imagine ; and it is 

 precisely their simplicity, which should most powerfully 

 excite our wonder and admiration. 



Gelatinous tissue is formed from blood, from com- 

 pounds of proteine. It may be produced by the addi- 

 tion, to the elements of proteine, of allantoine and 



