2M 



ANIMAL MAtTER. 



Experiments on 

 the nitiic acid 

 wherein the 

 Inufcular flefh 

 had been de- 

 compofed. 



Sect. 3. The combination of yellow acid and fat, on being 

 again fubmitled to the aftion of nitric acid, at a temperature 

 of about 50 degrees, underwent no remarkable alteration. — 

 Its colour changed from yellow to white ; its fpecific gravity- 

 was diminilhed, as was likewife its bulk ; but without any 

 motion or effervefcence in the acid. Blue coloufs were 

 deeply reddened by it ; it dilTolved, as before, in the ley of 

 potaih., to which it communicated an orange-red colour, and 

 had an extremely acrid tafte. The a6lion of nitric acid upon 

 tliis yellow matter feems confined to giving it properties which 

 make it approximate to an oily ftate, without deftroying its 

 original acid charadler. 



Sect. 4. It was of importance that the nitric acid with 

 which the mufcular flefli had been decompofed, (hould be ex- 

 amined. Its yellow colour refembled that of the folution of 

 fchromate of potaih. When faturated with carbonate of pot- 

 a(li, the liquor at firft acquired an orange colour, afterwards 

 it became turbid, and depofited a fmall quantity of orange- 

 red powder. On diftillation, this mixture afforded a clear 

 liquid, void of colour, of a rancid fmell, containing a little 

 ammonia, probably formed by the nitric acid. What remained 

 in the retort, was of a blackifh brown colour, but it was not 

 farther examined. 



A colourlefs liquor, having the fame tafte and fmell, was 

 afterwards obtained by diftillation of another portion of the 

 nitric acid ufed in the decompofilion of the mufcular flefln. 

 The liquor remaining in the retort became yellow by concen- 

 tration, and its re-a£tion upon nitric acid was quickly per- 

 ceived in a copious emiffion pf red vapours. When reduced 

 to 40 grammes, flattifli cryftals were formed in a thick mother- 

 water, whofe tenacity was fimilar to that of the folution of 

 gum. 



This mother-water poflefled an acid bitter tafte, and on 

 the addition of a little cauftic potafti, became of a blood-red 

 colour: mixed with alcohol, it depofited a white flaky fedi- 

 ment, which afterwards formed ilfelf into fine fern i-tranfparent 

 grains, of a pleafant acid flavour. 



Five decigrammes of this fait, on being calcined, left 21 

 centigrammes of yellowifli very light refiduum, which effer- 

 vefced and were diflTolved in nitric acid, and on being evapo- 

 rated produced cryftals of fulphate of lime and nitrate of 

 polfilli. 



Tiiis 



