COMPOUNDS OF ORGANIZATION. i 
or azote. Some of them are peculiar to the animal king- 
dom, others exist in equal abundance in plants. 
A. Uric Acid—This acid, which has likewise been 
termed Lithic, exists in considerable abundance in urine, 
and in urinary calculi. It is’ likewise found in the excre- 
ments of birds, reptiles and imsects. In all the situations 
in which it is found, it appears to be a production of the 
kidneys, or organs exercising an analogous function. 
B. Lactic Acid. —This acid, which the French chemists 
endeavoured to prove to be the same with the acetic acid, 
is ascertained by Brerzenius to be a peculiar acid*. It 
is of very general occurrence in the animal fluids, m com-, 
bination with soda or ammonta. It is found uncombined 
in muscular flesh. 
C. Amniotic Acid.—This substance was discovered in 
the liquor amnu of the cow, by Vavevetin and Buniva, 
and obtained im white crystals by evaporating that liquid 
slowly, It is soluble in heated water, and alcohol, and 
bears the nearest resemblance in its properties to the two 
acids which have been enumerated. Dr Prout did not 
succeed in finding this substance ny the uterus of a cow 
slaughtered in an early period of her gestation +. 
D. Formic Acid—This acid is obtained by infusing 
ants in water, and drawing it off by distillation, The wa- 
ter in the receiver contains the formic acid. By some, it 
is regarded as analogous to the acetic acid, and by others, 
as a mixture of the acetic and malic acids. 
The preceding acids are peculiar to the animal king- 
dom ; those now to be enumerated are likewise found in 
the juices of plants. 
E. Benzoic Acid exists in considerable abundance, in 

* Annals of Phil, ii. 201. 4+ Annals of Phil. v. 416. 
3 
