August 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



on chemistry applied to the arts. 

 Composition of Bones. 



15 



Name of Bone. 



Mineral 



Matter. 



Phosphate 

 of Lime. 



Phosphate 

 of Magnesia. 



Carbonate 

 of Lime. 



Femur — Foetus 6 months 



63-0 



58-9 





5-8 



Boy 18 „ ... 



61-6 



58-0 



0-5 



25 



„ Woman 22 years... 



60-1 



59-4 



1-3 



77 



„ Man 30 „ ... 



632 



57-7 



1-2 



93 



40 , 



64-2 



56-3 



1-3 



102 



„ Woman 80 „ ... 



646 



57-1 



12 



7-5 





60-8 



51-9 



1-3 



9-3 



„ Lion (young) 



64 7 



60-0 



1-5 



63 





70-0 

 62-9 

 70-0 

 643 



629 



51-9 



58-0 



1.5 

 0-5 



1.2 



7-7 

 10-6 





Ostrich 



Carapace of Turtle 





61-3 

 6V9 

 67-1 

 96-9 



58-1 

 60-7 

 90-5 



traces 



1-2 



traces 



3"8 

 2-9 



2-2 







„ „ Enamel 





74-8 

 34-2 



70-3 

 33-7 



13 



traces 



2-2 

 1-1 



Scales of the Carp 



The first conclusion drawn by M. Fremy from these researches is, 

 that he found a larger proportion of mineral matter than is generally 

 admitted by chemists. Secondly, that there is no material difference in 

 the composition of various bones taken from different parts of man, or 

 of any one animal, but that age has a very marked influence on com- 

 position. Thus, in the bones of infants there is more animal and less 

 mineral matter than in the adult, whilst in old age there is more mineral 

 and less animal matter than in the middle-aged man. The mineral 

 substance which chiefly increases in old age is carbonate of lime. 

 Lastly, he could find no marked difference between the bones of man, 

 the ox, calf, elephant, and whale ; whilst in the bones of carnivorous 

 animals and those of birds there is a slight increase in the amount of 

 mineral matter. Allow me now to call your attention to a most inte- 

 resting query. 1 hold in one hand the mineral matter only of a bone, 

 which you can see retains perfectly its original form, and in the other 

 hand I have the animal matter only of a similar bone, which also 

 retains the form in which it previously existed, but is flexible instead 

 of rigid. The question, therefore, arises whether the hardness of 

 bones proceeds from these two kinds of matter being combined 

 together, or are their respective molecules merely juxtaposed ? The 

 answer is, the latter ; for, as you see by this specimen, the mineral 

 matter has been entirely removed without deforming the animal 

 texture. Further, in the foetus it is found that the bones contain nearly 

 the same proportions of animal and mineral matters as those of the 

 adult. Also, it has been observed by Mr. Flourence and other eminent 

 physiologi.-ts, that the wear and tear of bones during life is repaired by 



