Miscellanies. 409 



Now it was necessary to make a plan of the analysis — but how 

 could I make a plan, the nature of the substances to be separated 

 being unknown. 



A single mistake in the plan would destroy the whole, as I had 

 no more of the matter to recommence. 



On recalling to myself how many times I have been obliged to re- 

 commence the analyses of blood, bile, and urine, &,c. because I found 

 it necessary, time and again, to alter the plan, it was evident that 

 I could uot now attain the object with the gastric juice, of which, I 

 possessed only 3^ grammes of dry residuum. I have therefore put 

 alcohol, sp. gr. 0.833, upon it and enclosed it in a vial well stopped, 

 where it waits whatever may happen. 



A great number of experiments, chemical and physiological, ought 

 to precede the analysis. These experiments would demand almost 

 daily to renew the supply of gastric juice — e. g. "Tis said that 

 the gastiic juice dissolves the aliments swallowed ; but what is 

 this solution ? Does it not consist in this, that certain parts are dis- 

 solved entirely, and that others insoluble, but in a very divided stale, 

 are diluted in the form of a thick bouiUie ? What are the substances 

 dissolved, and w^hat the part insoluble, but diluted ? The fibrine of 

 muscle is very soluble, even out of the stomach, in very dilute acids. 



I inquire next, is it by the free acid of the gastric juice, that this 

 solution is made in the stomach ? 



Would gastric juice, rendered perfectly neutral, lose the power 

 of dissolving muscular fibre ? 



If not, it must contain another substance which is the true min- 

 struum. This substance ought to be isolated and studied apart, be- 

 fore we could have any means of determining its quantity. 



This we could not do without being able often to renew the ex- 

 periment with fresh gastric juice. It would be necessary even to 

 examine with the firesh gastric juice, the most of the aliments which 

 the man used, each by itself, and by proceeding thus, w^e should 

 obtain probably some sure and numerous data, that would give a 

 glimpse of what should be sought in the analysis, for that which is 

 unsought, is rarely found. You see then, my dear sir, how much 

 previous knowledge I need, for entering upon this analysis with 

 hope of success. 



I request you to make the proper explanations and apology to 

 Dr. Beaumont. 



