244 ANIMAL MATTER. 



animal fubHances b_y nitric acid ; to this is now added the dif- 

 covery, 1, Of a yellow infipid matter, of little folubility, 

 though acid, and which immediately fucceeds the flefhy fibre; 

 2, Of another yellow matter, bitter, more foluble, and equally 

 acid, wiiich remains difTolved in the nitric liquor; 3, Of an 

 inflammable, detonating fubftance, which is alfo retained in 

 ffjlution; 4, and laftly, of the formation of malic acid. 



It appears, and is the opinion of Mefirs. Fourcroy and 

 Vauqtielin, that the yellow and nearly infoluble matter is the 

 firft degree of change produced upon the mufcular fibre; it 

 pafTes quickly to the fecond degree of alteration and of acidity, 

 whofe produd is the more foluble yellow matter: this, by a 

 third degree of alteration is fucceeded by the inflammable de- 

 tonating fubftance, being the third and iaft term of the de- 

 compofing aftion of nitric acid. The authors of this memoir 

 attribute the fucceflive formation of thefe three compounds 

 to the fubtradion of part of the azote, and of a more conli- 

 derabie portion of the hydrogen: by this means the proportions 

 of their elements are changed, and there remains an excefs of 

 carbon and o# oxigen, wliich produces the ftate of fat and 

 acidity already noticed. As to the proportion of the confti- 

 tuent principles of thefe three compounds, it is a problem 

 of too remote a nature for its folution to be readily dilcovered. 

 Acidity of the Meffrs. F. and V. examined if the acidity of the yellow 

 •yellow fubftance fubftances might in any meafure a rife from nitric acid; but, 

 nkric^add. ^ ^'^^^^ ^ careful invefligatfon, they were falisfied that it was in 



no degree prefent. 



Formation of '^'^^ formation of oxalic and malic acids belongs to the 



oxalic and malic white raucous fcales of the cellular membrane. Comparative 



' *' experiments of the efiects of nitric acid on the while mem» 



branaceous organs, which furniflied plenty of ihefe acids, and 



very little of the fat yellow matter, led the authors to this 



conclufion. 



Skct. 6. A few infulated la<5ts, which hitherto have 

 fcarcely appeared to be fufceptible of any ufeful application, 

 fcem to unite with thofe prelented by this analyfis ; and the 

 learned chemifts, to. whom we are indebted for it, have not 

 nmiiied to conne6i them with the other fa<5is. Such are thofe 

 which are obtained by examining the bilious concretions in 

 certain animals ; fhofe in the gall-bladder of the ox and ele- 

 phant; and the analogy which appears to exift between bile, 



the 



