ON THfc ANIMAL FLUIDS. 3p 



3. In the examination of other animal fluids, v'12. of other fluids, 

 ascites, of hydrothorax, and hydrops pericardii, as well as 

 subsequently of the hydrocele, of the hydatids, of the thy- 

 roid gland, and of a tumour of the chest, no such experi- 

 ment as that of compounding an acetate is mentioned. 



4. In the experiments however on the saline matter of the Sfrum of 

 sernm of the blood, an acetate was compounded, which Experiment 

 dissolved in alcohol ; the words of the author being, " the with acetic 

 alcoholic residue, contrary to my expectations, exhibited ^ an 

 traces of potash, both by means of tartaric acid, and oximu* 



riate of platina," This, as far as I can find, is the sole 

 experiment with acetic acid and alcohol, related by the 

 author to determine the kind of alkali present, although 

 the assertion is made of the animal fluids generally. But, 

 although the assertion be not proved, it may be worth while 

 to consider what, or whether any thing is proved by these 

 experiments'. They prove, that potash was present, be- What is prov- 

 cause there was a precipitate with tartaric acid, but nothing ^ rt " 

 more~~there is no proof, that it was in the state of muriate, 

 as asserted. It perhaps will be said, that these experiments 

 prove, that this ** alcoholic residue" contains also acetate of 

 soda; " for the same residue, treated with nitric acid, was 

 almost entirely resolved into rhomboidal crystals, among 

 which I was unable. to detect any distinct prisms." Now I 

 have already expressed my want of confidence in the figure 

 ef minute crystals singly as evidence, especially seen 

 through glasses ; and here I presume is a decisive instance of 

 their fallacy;, for the potash being proved to be present, and, 

 as already said by Dr. Marcet, united to muriatic acid, it 

 must have afforded cubes, if reliance can be placed on 

 forms; but no such cubes were seen. A farther objection 

 occurs to my mind in this experiment. I apprehend, that it 

 is quite as likely to be true, that alcohol will dissolve a small 

 proportion of muriate of soda, as according to Dr. Marcet it 

 does of muriate of potash. This being the case, the "alco- 

 holic residue" ought to have afforded cubes of muriate of 

 soda as welt as., of muriate of potash. The process under 

 examination requires farther animadversion on the remain- 

 ing part of it : «* Potash was easily discoverable in the resi- 

 due insoluble in alcohol, which residue had now lost its 



deliquescent 



