ON EXPECTORATED MATTER. 225 



much in degree of moisture on e><posine to the air. 1 have 

 found some pavcele of the second and fifth sorts of expecto- 

 rated substances grow quite moist, and receive an increase in 

 weight of three per cent. If the residues were kept iu close 

 vessels, they 1 emained in a brittle state. Larger parcels of 

 exsiccated matter become niore riiiiist than smaller ones of 

 the same kind in the same circumstances. 



4. The milky and curdy liquids, which separated from Milky and cui*. 



the curdy musses (1) being poured off; and aUo the curdv y ''*1"^' **> ^" 

 •' \ J 13 I ' ^ ^ . curdy matter 



passes being by pressure rendered dry ; the liquids were exsiccated, 

 evaporated to dryness, but became moist on exposure to th^ 

 air. The curdy masses wfere by evaporation rendered brit- 

 tle, and remained so ii'i the air. "ih^ residues of the evapo- 

 rated liquids were said to taste extremely salt, and the ex- 

 siccated curdy matter was tasteless. ' 



5. The milky liquids (4), concentrated by evaporation. Milky Hquwla. 

 did not indicate any disengaged acid, or alkali, to the usual 

 reagents. — By triturating these liquids with lime, a little 

 ammonia was discharged — by trituration with concentrated 

 sulphuric acid, the muriatic acid was disengaged — with 

 phosphoric acid, and also with tartaric acid on trituration 



and heatmg, a pungent smell was perceived, somewhat like 

 that of the acetous acid. On bui-ningto a brown ash the stx- 

 liae residue afforded by eva])orhti6n of these liquids, the 

 predominating taste of it was that of muriate of soda. This 

 ash readily melted, — being moistened, it turiied turmeric 

 paper to a reddish brown colour, and changed turnsole pa- 

 per, reddened by acetous acid, to a deep blue — on exposure 

 to the air, it partially deliquesced— the dissolution, by boil- 

 ing in distilled water, afforded supertartrate of potash on 

 the addition of the tartaric acid; and a red precipitate was 

 occasioned by nitro-mutiate of platina*. This incinerated 

 and fused saline residue by other trials was proved to con- 

 tain phosphoric acid and lime; with traces of sulphuric 

 iicid, magnesia, iron, and perhaps silica ; but the c:hief in- 

 gredients were muriate of soda and potash. 



6". The curdy matter after expression (4) afforded a ^; , 



•' , 1 r • Curdy matter, 



much smaller proportion of brown ash than the fusible sa- 



* The knowledge of this reagent, 1 believe, the chemical world owes 

 to Dr. Wollaston. 



Vol. XXV.— Mar. IB 10. Q line 



