74 B. W. Bull on Emulsine and its Composition. 



In concluding a notice of this work, we will remark, that we 

 think a good geographical map should have accompanied it. It 

 is indeed absolutely necessary in order that the text be fully un- 

 derstood, that the reader have one before him. This want would 



/ 



not be felt as it is, if the localities cited were given on the geo- 

 logical map, which is not the case, excepting so far as relates to 

 the districts. 



We cannot refrain too from expressing our strong regret, that 

 the figures of the fossils of the state were not published, as was 

 intended by Mr. Tuomey. It seems from a postscript to the 



preface, that while the report was passing through the press, he 



was informed, " that the committee on publication had decided 

 that the plates containing the figures were not essential" and 

 they were therefore omitted. 



We will not however complain of this as showing any want 

 of liberality on the part of the state. She has done well in pre- 

 senting to the world what she has, and in behalf of that world, 

 we would thank her, and rejoice in what is received from her 

 hands. 



To Mr. Tuomey we extend our congratulations, that his labors 

 are now brought to a successful close. We believe he will have 

 constantly increasing evidence that he has not labored in vain. 



Art. VII. — Some Observations upon Emulsine and its Composi- 

 tion ; by B. W. Bull, Hartford, Conn. 



The following investigations were made in the summer of 

 1848, at the suggestion of Prof, von Liebig, in the hope of elicit- 

 ing some farther information in relation to the constitution and 

 properties of this substance. The method at first employed in 

 preparing emulsine was that of Ortloff, as recommended by him 

 in the Archiv. der Pharmacie, vol. 48, page 12,* which is the fol- 

 lowing : " The sweet almond powder already freed from oil by 

 pressure, is to be stirred with about three times its weight of wa- 

 ter, and the mixture, placed in a wide mouthed loosely covered 

 glass vessel, is to be exposed to a temperature of 15° to 20° R> 

 during five or six days, till all the albumen? is destroyed by the 

 consequent fermentation. The fluid is then to be filtered off, and 

 the emulsine precipitated by adding strong alcohol in sufficient 

 quantity, and subsequently dried at a temperature not exceeding 

 30° R." It is described as a " reddish gray or reddish yellow 

 mass, gum-like and brittle; in small pieces, horny, transparent, 

 with a glossy lustre externally and internally dull." 



* For an abstract of this paper, see Berzelius Jahres-Bericht, 2*7th volume, page 

 396, German edition. 



