162 T. Sterry Hunt on the Chemical and Geological History 
trary, numerous fossil fishes, from the soft parts of which, or 
other animal matters, the combustible substance of these rocks 
is generally supposed to be derived (Dufrénoy, Minéralogie, iv, 
603). It will be seen, farther on, that similar questions arise 
with regard to the origin of the bitumens of various formations, 
or while in some cases, as in the Tertiary rocks of Trinidad, 
they are clearly traced to a ve — source, bitumens are also 
met with in Lower Silurian sua De nian limestones of marine 
origin, which abound in shells ae onal, but afford no traces 
of vegetable remains. When however it is coneigtnd that the 
tains the elements of cellulose monia, it is easy to indan 
stand that vegetable and animal remains may, by their slow 
decomposition, give rise te simila ssreapebenneenss bodies.” 
latio t pointed out oe me in 1849. _ Journal, (2) vii, P» 
109. i I she Pte to show that the albuminoid bodies might be reg rded as 
9 H, Ps 
alogous nitryl, C,,H.)N,O,; which eae to one equivalent of glucose 
our of ammonia, less 8H,0,. These nitryls, it was a omen Ye might, under certain 
iti vidence 
v, p. 75, vi, p 
of curtilage-gelatine, or chondrine, in like manner correspond very near 
nitryl formed from Cy4H»209» (cane-sugar) and three equivalents of am 
e C,H N,0;0,° es 14°7 of nitrogen. 
In 1856, Dusart, starting, as he tells us, from my theoretical views, ende 
to produce the albuminoid bodies by the action of a solation of ammonia on starch, 
lactose, or glucose at temperature of 150° and 200° C. In this way he obtamed 
after several days, an azotized body, which resembled gelatine. It was precipk 
tated by alcohol in elastic filaments, formed an imputrescible compound with 
om in, aaa when oa gave off the odor of burning horn. Its te Re 
a ex 
as 14-0 : 
ae, 1861, p. 974.) Schoc mbroodt has since asserted the possibility of converting 
ri into ps ‘albuminoid intense Ti reit cy Fog my suggestion that the e albumin: 
are veritable nitryls of the amyloids; under which convenient term 
cludes those hydrates of carbon which are sinenptible of conversion into 
, p. 856. 
In 1861, rs. Fischer Boedeker announced the production of fermentes- 
cible sugar by the action of ‘dilute acids on cartilage, and showed that the inges 
of 1é amount of sugar in normal h 
authors seem by the ct before me (Repertoire de Chimie Pure, July, 1861, from 
C tse , exvii, p. 111), to ignore alike v , 
and those of who twenty years years since showed that, by long st | 
rd 
with dilute sulphuric acid, there is formed from _vigrinns a sweet fermen 
gar, together with a a large am amount of sulphate of ammonia,—(Précis de 
i, p. 821.) 
