210 



Jvperlments on 

 gelatine* 



<S;iZZAB.D Of FOWLS. 



^, It was very light, and (wam upon water, 



S. When well wafhed, it retained little or no flavour, 



4. Left expofed to the air, it dried, and fell to duft. 



5. It did not redden the tindture of turnfol. 



6. It was fcarcely at all foluble in warm water. On boiling 

 it a length of time, in a fufficient quantity of water, it was 

 reduced to an infinite number of particles, fo minute as to be 

 hardly perceptible ; but as the heat was lowered, they re- 

 united in a mafs as before the boiling. 



7. Heated nitric and acetic acids diflfolved this fubflaoce j 

 but it was precipitated in its original form, by reirigeration. 



8. Trituration with cauftic polafli produced a feparalion of 

 ammoniac. 



This matter, it will be perceived, is neither gelatine nor 

 -ijlbumen, fince its properties are wholly different. 



It appears probable, (hat the gelatine in gizzard acquires 

 by drying, properties analogous to thofe above defcribed ; 

 which, with the changes obferved in the exlradive matter 

 already mentioned, would certainly render dried gizzard lefs 

 foluble in water. 



We have no means of afcertaining, for want of a proper 

 objefi of comparifon, whether this difference be effential to 

 the efficacy of gizzard ; and I know not if frefli gizzard has 

 ever been adopted in medicul pradice. I could only wifli to 

 afcertain if its febrifuge quality exift in the oxigenated gela- 

 tine, in the extraflive matter, or in the acid fait. Indeed, on 

 comparing the quantity of gelatine adminiftercd to patients, 

 according to M. Seguin, with the dofe of powdered gizzard, 

 above-defcribed, a great difference will be obferved ; and yet 

 according to Ihofe who have made ufe of it, a faiall dofe of 

 powdered gizzard is Jufficient to check the fever. 



The comparifon which I have made of gelatine with giz- 

 zard is fufficient to etlablifli a material dillinflion between 

 them. 



Pure gelatine poffeffes a weak infipid flavour; does not 

 redden tindure of turnfol; is mucous and gluey between the 

 fingers; affumes in the fire a concrete, folid, and tranfparemt 

 appearance ; and is foluble in boiling water. 



Solution of barytes or of lime mixed with that of gelatine, 

 caufes a precipitation of phofphate of lime. 



Sulphates 



