154 ON THE ALKALINE MATTER IN SERUM &C. 



lately been rendered doubtful, if not exploded, by the 

 wondrous achievements of professor Davy. Considering 

 this progressive state, I offer the conclusions, that potash, 

 and not soda, is the alkali existing united to animal matter 

 in the animal fluids I examined, merely as provisional. That 

 potash does also exist in them united to muriatic acid is 

 not inconsistent with my experiments ; but the experiments 

 of my learned friends do not appear to authorise such an 

 inference. The discovery however will be partly due to 

 them, if hereafter the fact be substantiated. 

 Microscopic I cannot close this communication, until I shall have said 

 € minry. ^ ^^^ words concerning the high encomiums on what is 

 called microscopic chemistry,3.ccomi)iimed by the bitter philip- 

 pic against the *' dismal, large, subterraneous laboratory". 

 Chemistry must now, we are told, be transferred '* to the 

 comfortable fireside of the drawing room" — from Vulcan's 

 foul stithy to my lady's chamber. This elegant change is to 

 give " new impulses" to the advancement of the science; 

 and new scliools are to arise under new auspices. Most 

 happy shall I be to find these eutopian prospects realized. 

 It seems however more than probable, that the successful 

 impulses already given by tlie chemical schools of my very 

 learned and approved good masters, Cullen, Black, and 

 Fordycc, will retain the principal cultivators in the paths now 

 opened. And with regard to the scene for operations, the 

 privilege of taste will be asserted ; for that is indeed not 

 disputable either in chemistry, or elsewhere— Becher's taste 

 was opposite to that of the ingenious new advocates, ^« nee 

 quicquam proe carbonibus, venenis, fuligine, follibus, et 

 furnis valere potest"— P%5. Subter. Pmf. The Lord 

 High Chancellor of England not long ago declared in 

 court, that he would not pay " sixpence" for the rapturous 

 notes of Mara, or Catalani.«U. This also was a matter of 

 taste,^and no one disputed it ; it was only observed by a laro-e 

 majority, that his Lordship had " no music in his soul, and 

 was not charmed by concord of sweetsounds"— no more. The 

 Talue of a tree is best known by its fruits ; and accordingly, 

 to inform the judgment of the public by practical exam- 

 ples, and as some return for the notice with which my pa- 

 pers have been honoured, I shall,' with your permission, 



offer 



