u$ 



ON THE ALKALINE MATTER IN SCRUM ScC. 



According to computation the 140 grains of resinlike 

 matter contained 28 grains of potash united to matter de- 

 structible by fire, and 18 grains of muriate of soda, with an 

 inappreciable quantity of ammonia and phosphoric acid, 

 beside the animal matter. 



The matter undissolved by alcohol in this process 

 afforded by incineration and fusion a mass, consisting of 23 

 o-rains of muriate of soda, with a very small proportion of 

 potash, mixed with 23 grains of phosphate of lime, traces 

 of mao-nesia, iron, and a sulphate, also a minute portion of 

 utterly indissoluble vitrified matter. If potash had existed 

 in union with muriatic acid, it must have appeared in the 

 fused mass left undissolved after digestion in alcohol; but 

 potash did appear in a naked state after ignition and fusion 

 of the matter dissolved in alcohol. 

 Exp, 3. 3. By digesting 4000 grains of sputum in two pints of 



rectified spirit of wine, the same results were obtained, ex- 

 cepting that the resinlike matter contained a much larger 

 proportion of muriate of soda and animal matter. 

 Exp 4. 4. Twenty ounces of ropy sputum, by digestion in ten 



pints of distilled acetic acid, afforded, on evaporation of the 

 clear liquid separated from the coagulated matter, a soft 

 extrapt. This extract deliquesced partially on exposure 

 for a few days to the air, but it manifested no properties of 

 alkali. By exsiccation, ignition, and fusion, of a little of 

 this deliquesced matter, it afforded an aqueous solution, 

 which precipitated abundantly supertartrate of potash on 

 adding tartaric acid ; and a reddish precipitate fell on the 

 addition of platlna solution. 



The whole of this extract, being exsiccated, was digested 

 in rectified spirit of wine, affording a blackish tincture. 

 After evaponation to dryness, it became liquid by 24 hours 

 exposure to the air. It was almost ejitlrely acetate of pot- 

 ash. I believe acetate of soda neither dissolves in alcohol, 

 nor'deliquesces, but, independently of these properties, the 

 alkali united was proved to be potash. 

 Examina'.ion 1 shall call no other evidence from a great mass, which 

 aXced"'''"'''^ remains in n»y published papers. If I were to follow the 

 against this example of my adversaries, I should also not trouble myself 

 coticUis.on. j^ examine tiieir evidence ; but, as the question cannot be 



decided 



