93 



CHAPTER. II. 



Chemical constitution of the Solids and Fluids of the Human Body. 



I. Simple substances entering into the Constitution of the different Animal Principles 

 or Constituents of the Human Body. 



The following simple substances are variously combined, in order to produce the consti- 

 tuent parts of the body : 



1. Azote, 6. Lime, 11. Magnesia, (Magnesium,} 



2. Carbon, 7. Sulphur, 12. Silica, 

 li. Hydrogen, 8. Soda, (Sodium,) 13. Iron, 



4. Oxygen, !>. Potass, (Potassium,) 14. Magnanese, 



5. Phosphorus, 10. Muriatic Acid. 



Of these, magnesia and silica may be considered as foreign bodies ; they being seldom 

 found, and in exceeding small quantities. The principal elementary ingredients are the 

 first six: animal substances may be considered as chiefly composed of them. The first four 

 constitute almost entirely the soft parts; and the other two form the basis of the hard parts. 



II. Animal Constituents or Principles. 



I. GELATIN consists of Carbon, 47.88 ; Hydrogen, 27.20; Oxygen, 27.20; Azote, 17.00; 

 or of 15, 14, 6, 2, atoms respectively. Contained in skin, bone, tendons, &c. Test, 

 Tannin. 



II. ALBUMEN, Corrosive sublimate detects gViTo P art tlie weight of the water contain- 

 ed in it. COMP. Carbon, 52.883 ; oxygen, 23.872 ; hydrogen, 7.540 ; azote, 15.705, in 

 100 parts. Dr. Prout found it to consist of 15 atoms of carbon, 6 of oxygen, 14 hydrogen, 

 2 azote, according to the analysis quoted. 



III. FIBRINE varies in its species in the different classes of animals. COMP. Carbon, 

 53.360; oxygen, 19.685; hydrogen, 7.021; azote, 19.934. Consists of carb. 18 atoms, oxyg. 

 5, hydrog. 14, azote 3. 



IV. COLOURING MATTER OF THE BLOOD. Berzelius found it possessed of nearly the 

 same properties as fibrin. It is soluble in water at a low temperature; and in all the acids, 

 except the -muriatic, contains iron. (Berzelius, vol. 3. Med. Chirurg. Trans.) 



V. UREA, or NEPHRIN, soluble in water and in alcohol. Precipitated in pearly crystals 

 by nitric acid and oxalic acid. Dissolved by a solution of potass or soda. 



Oxygen,- - - 39.5) 2 atoms Hydrogen, - -0.25- - - 6.66 



Azote, - - - 32.5 I 1 Carbon, - - 0.75 - - - 20.00 



Carbon, - - -14.7(1 Oxygen, - -1.00- - -26.66 



Hydrogen, - - 13.3 j 1 Azote, - - 1.75 - - - 46.66 



100. 3.75 100. 



(Dr. Prout.') 



Gelatin is insoluble in cold water, albumen is insoluble in hot, and fibrine is insoluble in 

 both cold and hot. 



The constituents of these three bodies, and of nephrin, according to the best analysis of 

 them hitherto made, are as follow : 



Carbon. Oxygen. Hydrogen. Azote. 

 Gelatin, atoms 15 - - - - 6 - - - - 14 - - - - 2 



Albumen, 17 - - - - 6 - - - - 13 - - - - 2 



Fibrine, 18 - - - - 5 - - - - 14 - - - - 3 



Nephrin, 1-- -1- -2----1 



The colouring matter of the blood approaches albumen in many of its properties ; but it 

 seems entirely destitute of azote. 



VI. Mucus. Insoluble in water, transparent when evaporated to dryness, and, like 

 gum, soluble in the acids. Not soluble in alcohol or ether does not coagulate by heat 

 nor is precipitated by corrosive sublimate, or by galls. Is precipitated by the acetates of 

 lead, and by nit. argenti. Found in the epidermis, in nails, feathers, &c. (Bostock, in Ni- 

 cholson's Journ. XL 251.) 



VII. OSMAZOMK is, probably, only an altered state of fibrine. Soluble in water and al- 

 coholdoes not gelatinize. Precipitated by nit. argenti. nit. hydrarg. and acet. and nit. of 

 lead. 



VIII. PIGROMEL found principally in bile ; resembles inspissated bile in its appear- 

 ance ; soluble in water and in alcohol : 



