278 ANALYSIS OF THE ROE OF FISHES. 



phorescence, or phosphoric acid; only sulphuric acid ex- 

 tracted from its coal phosphate of lime and of magnesia. 



Soluble por- 4. 'I he soluble part of roe is precipitable by nutgalls and 



^"^"- several metallic solutions. 



No phosphate 5. Roe being boiled a long time in water, not an atom of 



ef ammoiiia, phosphate of ammonia was extracted ; which confirms what 

 has been said above of the existence of phosphorus in a 

 pure state in this animal substance. 



Insoluble part. 6. The portion of roe not soluble in hot water being car- 

 bonized, and then lixiviated with water, it yielded no phos- 

 phate of ammonia. It afterward comported itself as the 

 coal of the entire roe. The phosphorus, therefore, remains 

 with the albumen. 



Roe treated 7. Alcohol takes up from roe a kind of saponaceous mat- 



with alcohol. ^^^^ which imparts to it an unpleasant smell and taste. 



When this alcohol is distilled, the liquor becomes of a 

 greenish yellow; and, when all the fluid has passed over, a 

 substance remains resembling eoap both in taste and smell. 

 This soap retains some atoms of alkahne phosphate. 



The roe treated with alcohol has no longer a greasy feel, 

 but is dry and harsh. It appears therefore, that its unctu- 

 osity is owing to the animail soap. 



Sect. V. Conclusion, 



Discovery of 1. The discovery of phosphorus in the combustible state 

 pure phospho- \^ organized substances belongs entirely to Mensrs. Four- 

 zed substlnces. croy and Vauquelin* ; for, if we consult those chemists who 

 have attempted the analysis of compounds of this kind, we' 

 Bud only MargraU", who says he obtained phosphorus in dis- 

 Musurd seed, tilling a vegetable substance. Mustard seed, with which he 

 made his experiment, being subjected to a fresh examina- 

 tion, did not furnish the slightest trace of this combustible. 

 Hence it is probable, that tiie phosphorus obtained by thi» 

 chemist was an accidental product of the operation. 

 P o dn- ^' '^'^'*^ authors of this paper purpose to inquire, whetlier 



quiry. this phosphuretted animal compouiid belong to the organi- 



zation of fishes in general, or be peculiar to their soft roe. 

 p. ^ ,' They presume, with, much reason, that the phosphorus 



• This is a mistake. See the following article. C. 



founj' 



