Association of American Geologists and Naturalists. 339 
Now 11 atoms of sugar consists of 66 carbon, 110 hydrogen, 55 
oxygen, and may form, by decomposition according to Mulden, 
Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxygen. 
3 atoms of glucic acid, - - 24. 30 15 
latom of ulmin, - - - 40 32 14 
1 atom of formic acid, - er) 2 3 
23 atoms of water, - - «gO 46 23 
66 110 55 
Then by the opposite action, which is the regeneration of vegetable 
matter, we may have ulmin or humic acid converted into glucic acid, 
formic acid or sugar. 
By the action of the atmosphere, glucic acid is converted into apoglu- 
cic acid, and by the action of nitrogenized bodies it is further convert- 
ed into crenic acid and apocrenic acid. ‘Thus we see how these impor- 
tant organic matters may be formed from ordinary vegetable matter, 
by exposure to the influence of moisture, atmospheric air, and the soil. 
Dumas regards vegetables as true organs of reduction or deoxida- 
tion, while animals are regarded as organs of combustion or oxidation. 
Thus while plants absorb carbonic acid and give out oxygen, animals 
absorb oxygen and give out carbonic acid gas. Plants directly or indi- 
rectly furnish us with our aliment, and after consuming it, animals ren- 
der the same amount of matter to the vegetable kingdom in another 
form, which is better adapted to their use. Thus we see the great and 
mysterious cirele of the revolution of organic elements is complete. 
Besides the organic matters derived from vegetable mould, we must 
consider the action of saline matters which constitute the necessary 
components of plants. 
We have already seen by the beautiful researches of Prof. Bailey, 
that nearly all kinds of forest trees contain in their bark, and enclosed 
in their sap-vessels, crystals of oxalate of lime, more than a million of 
which have been discovered in a square inch of the bark of the birch 
tree. This discovery is truly interesting, for it shows us another step 
in the process of changes of organic matter; for it is one of the easiest 
things for the chemist to convert sugar into oxalic acid. We must not 
fail to remark also, that while oxalic acid is a deadly poison, oxalate 
of lime is perfectly harmless; so that here we have this powerful acid 
in chains. What function this salt performs in vegetation is yet un- 
known. 
When we examine any kind of grain or any seed which is not charg- 
ed with oil so as to prevent an examination by the test we shall now 
describe, it is discovered that the seeds contain phosphates of certain 
bases. During the spring of 1840, Dr. J. discovered the presence of 
