ANIMAL FLt»ID3, |43 



It was nearly completed ; but I did not observe any tiindency 

 towards gelatinization, or the exliibition of any crystalline ap- 

 pearance. I concluded, thereforcj that it consisted altogether 

 of mucus. 



In the course of my exj^eriments on albumen, paiticulavly Putrid albu- 

 thosemade durijig the summer months, I have observed, that "^^" resembles 

 this substance is less disposed to become putrid in its natural 

 state than when diluted with a greater proportion of water, 

 and that a solution of the mucilaginous part, formed by washing 

 the coagulated albumen, was still more subject todecomposition. 

 In some instances, where I permitted a diluted solution of tho 

 albumen ovi to become putrid, I was forcibly impressed with 

 the resemblance of its odour to that of pus; whereas the putrid 

 inucilegc discharged the usual nauseous smell. 



With re.spect to the saline ingredients of the albumen ovi, Albumen ovl 

 thf^v !»eem to exist in very minute proportion. I was never c«"tains 

 able to detect any visible indication of saline matter by the eva- saliae matter: 

 pofution of the water ia which coagulated albumen had been 

 washed ; a considerable precipitate was indeed produced by the 

 adiiitionof the niratc of silver; but I concluded, from its ap- 

 pearalicc, that at least the greatest part of the effect depend- 

 ed upon the coagulation of the animal matter, though some 

 part of it might be due to the presence of the muriato of soda, — ^rhapsmn- 

 The albumen ovi exhibits shght alkaline effects upon the appro- »'!a«^eof soda; 

 priate test papers; and, by means of the oxalic acid, a very mi- 

 nute trace of lime may be detected, which probably exists in — a trace of 

 combination with the phosphoric acid. Inorder to ascei'tain the "^^^^ ' 

 quantity of alkali, I formed a very diluted alkaline solution of 

 a known strength, and observed horv much acetous acid was ne- 

 cessary to neutralize a given v/eight of it. With the same 

 acetous acid I neutralised a portion of the wliite of the egg, and, 

 making the necessary calculations, I estimated that 100 grains 

 of the albumen ovi contain no more than^ of a grain of alkali. 

 This alkuli has generally been supposed to be soda, and as this —and a thou- 

 salt is more frequently present in the different parts of the animal ^^^^"^ ' ^^'^ 

 body than potash, we may conclude, with some plausibihty, that 

 it is soda which exist in the albumen oVi. It has been supposed 

 to exist in the pure or caustic state ; but i am not aware of any 

 method by which this circumstance can be ascertained. I add- 

 ed the carbonate of soda to a solution of albumen ovi, in cqo- 



siderablv 



