0)t THE ALKALINE MATTER Ilf SERUM &C* |4|^ 



evldenee by showing, that the conclusions are unjustifiable, 

 but have merely exhibited their own experinaents and con- 

 clusions. This mode of procedure, lapprehend, is not ac- 

 cording to the laws of controversy ; and it compels me to 

 make astatement of, at least, some of the most decisive ex- 

 periments for ray conclusions, previously to the examination 

 of the contravening evidence. 



1. 961 grains of exsiccated sputum on incineration and Experimeftu 



fusion afforded 45 grrains of saline substances, consisting: of f*^ *'^'**'' *^*^ 



« . • . IP • /. 1 ,=• , It was poush. 



35 grains of cubical crystals ot muriate or soda, and the Exp. i. 



rest were spicula and uncrystallized salt, amounting to 10 

 grains. These 10 grains were separated for distinct exami- , 

 nation. They manifested the properties of alkaline matter. 

 On adding liquid tartaric acid to this alkaline matter, also 

 liquified, an effervescence ensued, with a precipitate of 

 supertartrate of potash only — '* certainly yielding no soda~ 

 tartrate of potash'''' — -with nitro-muriate of platina a grain or 

 two of this saline matter produced a reddish precipitate 

 Now if muriate of potash and carbonate or subcavbonate 

 of soda had existed, the result must have been soda-tartrate 

 of potash and muriate of soda; or tartrate of potash and 

 muriate of soda. This latter result is not so probable as the 

 former on account of the very large proportion of alkali to 

 any other possible salt. The quantities too were obviously suf- 

 ficient for producing compound salts determinable by the 

 eye unassisted with glasses. 



2. By digesting 2500 grains of desiccated sputum in 4 Exp. ?. 

 pints of alcohol of spirit of wine, the clear tincture decanted 



from off the undissolved matter afforded on distillation 140 

 grsiins of resinlike substance, which manifested no alkaline 

 properties^ but it indicated slightly acidity. 



A portion of this resinlike substance, being mixed with 

 liquid tartaric acid, was subjected to distillation, but nei- 

 ther muriatic nor any other acid was disengaged. This I 

 conceive shows, that no muriate of potash existed. 



25 grains of this matter were acted upon by successive 

 affusions of nitric acid ; and, on boiling to dryness and igni- 

 tion, the deflagration which took place produced a charcoal- 

 like mass, containing potdsh. Hence this alkali h^d been 

 united to something destructible by fire. 



L 2 According 



