ON THE ALKALINE MATTER IN SERUM &C. ^^f 



owing to the presetjceof this alkali in a state of combinatitrti 

 with the munatic acid. ' 



The experiments I adduced in evidence were of two This proved in 

 Kinds; some of them showing that the uncombined alkali ^^° ^^y*** 

 was soda, and others that it was not jiotash. 



Portions of saline matter being procured from various ani- Salts obtained 



mal fluids by evaporation and incineration; and brought '^'■"'" ^^*^'^^"' 

 •',.,. , . . ,,? animal fluids. 



by subsequent rediissolution and evaporation to a crystallme 



state, crystals of determincte forms were obtained, some of 

 which appeared to consist exclusively of sub-carbonat of 

 soda, some of muriat of soda, and others of muriat of pot- 

 ash ; but none could be detected, which appeared to con- 

 tain any carbouat of potash. 



Other similar portions of the saline matter being treated The uncom- 



with acetic acid, in order to bring any uncombined alkali bmed alkah 



® •' _ treated with 



present to the state of acetat ; and alcohol being added acetic acid 



with a view to separate these acetats, the residue of this '^"^ ^'*^^^*^^* 

 alcoholic solution appeared to consist almost* solely of ace- 

 tat of soda; while, on the other hand, potash was fbund in 

 the residue left undissolved by the alcohol. 



In these various trials the presence of potash, in a state of Potash in a 

 combination, was proved by the tests of oximuriate of pla^ bination. 

 tina and tartaric acid, both of which form precipitates with 

 potash, and not with soda. 



The uncombined alkali, on the contrary, was shown not Theuncom- 

 tO be potash by the last-mentioned tests failing to indicate bmedalkah 

 the presence of this alkali ; while, on the other hand, it was 

 proved to be soda, by the action of nitric acid, which, in 

 combining with it, formed crystals of a rhomboidal, instead 

 of a prismatic figure. 



I shall not enter into the particulars of these operations, pr. Pearson% 

 because they are minutely related in the Communication objections "r 



1-11 • • 11- • 1 Till examined. 



which has given rise to this discussion ; but 1 shall now ra- 

 pidly examine the principal objections which Dr. Pearson 

 has made to the above conclusions. ' ' ' 



Dr. Pearson's first ground of complaint is,^tmt;' in^stfe^d 1st objectioa, 

 •iif showing his conclusions to have been erronedtis ; i\ht is, ''^ *'-' '' '^* 



• A. trace of potash vras detected in the alcoholic solution; but it must'* " , J 



te remembered, that alcohol, however rectified, will take up minute 

 ppitions of muTJ«<t of potash, or indeed of Almost any other soluble salt.- 



I con- 



