ON THE ALKALINE MATTER IN SERUM &C. J^q 



decided without such an examination, I beg permission to 

 perform this duty. 



1. Of the Jluid of the spina bifida. 



In the ten printed pages of experiments on this fluid by Expenment& 

 Dr. Marcet, 1 can only perceive, that there is evidence for "" the fluid of 

 the existence of an alkaline subcarbonate ; yet it is said, bifida, 

 *' Soda may be inferred from the effervescence with acids." 

 The alkaline matter was treated with alcohol, and thus it 

 was separated from the muriate; the alcoholic solution, 

 being decanted and evaporated to dryness, a residue, 

 ** supposed to consist of acetate of sodai* was obtained, 

 which weighed between 17 and 18 per cent of the mass. 

 *' Oximvriate of ptatina produced no precipitate.^'' — I re- 

 mark, 1st, That the first result only shows the presence of Remarks on 

 charcoal acid. — 2d, The acetate of soda is not, 1 beli(^ve, *"'^'®* 

 dissoluble in alcohol ; hut it is well known, that acetate of 

 potash is so; however, if there be the authority of experi- 

 ment for the dissolubility of acetate of soda in this men-, 

 struum, still the experiment is equivocal. It was easy for 

 the adverse party to have decided this question by the test 

 of tartaric acid, provided there was an adequate quentily of 

 matter for the trial. — 3dly, I remark, that, there being no 

 precipitation with the platina solution seems to me to prove 

 nothing, as the whole quantity of matter treated could not 

 reasonably be supposed to amount to more than a small 

 fraction of a grain, too small for the detection of potash by 

 means of platina solution, or even probably by the more sen- 

 sible test, tartaric acid, which was not used. Yet the inge- 

 nious writer has not only inserted soda among the impreg- 

 nating ingredients of the fluid, under examination, but also 

 boldly denoted the proportion to the centesimal part of a 

 grain. I shall, in another part of this communication, t 

 believe, demonstrate, that this analysis does not warrant 

 the statement of the composition of this dropsical fluid given 

 in such precise terms ; for, on the ground of cogent ana- 

 logy, I cannot doubt that one or m_ore ingredients are pre- 

 sent, but not inquired for by experiment, nor enumerated. 

 Hence not only is the analysis objectionable with respect to 

 the ingredients, but the proportions. It is true, that in a suh- 



sequent 



