344 Analysis of the Cerelral Matter of Man^ [MAr<f 



by acids, and formed vvhite vapours when oxymuriatic acid was 

 brought into its neighbourhood. 



The iiqaid separated by filtration from the matter of the 

 brain had an amber colour. Acids rendered it muddy, throwing 

 down white flocks. The odour which it exhaled in these cir- 

 cumstances was more fetid and disagreeable than before. Oxy- 

 muriatic acid rendered it muddy, likewise; but at the same time 

 entirely destroyed its odour. 



After being filtered the liquor was subjected to distillation. 

 As soon as it was heated nearly to the boiling temperature, 

 yellow flocks separated in abundance, as liappens when a diluted 

 solution of albumen is treated in the same manner. 



The product of the distillation was without colour. Its odour 

 was perfectly similar to that of the liquid before distillation. It 

 precipitated acetate of lead white, and restored ihe colour of 

 litmus reddened by an acid, Oxymuriatic acid destroyed its 

 odour, and made it assume a yellow colour. 



When the liquor remaining in the retort vt/as reduced to about 

 a fifth part, it was filtered. lis colour was yenovv, and its odour 

 similar to that of old cheese. It bad become acid, for it red- 

 dened the colour of litmus paper. Infusion of nutgalls, \iu\q^ 

 water, aqd alcohol, formed fiocky precipitates in it. Ammonia 

 ^Iso occasioned a granular and semitransparent precipitate, which 

 resembled ammoniaco-phosphate of magnesia. Concentrated 

 sulphuric acid being mixed with this liquid developed a strong 

 smell of vinegar. 



Tiie solid matter of the brain which had undergone fermenta-^ 

 fion, being washed with v/ater, and submitted to the action of 

 alcohol, commurjicuted to it a bluisn green colour, as if the 

 |)rain had uodergone no aUeraiion. This alcohol, on cooling, 

 deposited a while matter, partly it flocks, partly in crystals, 

 Ti ere remained a greyish substai;ce, which the alcohol had not 

 dissolved, and wluch resembled albumen. 



From these e^tpeiimeots we may conclude, 

 , 1. That the iiitty portion of the brain had undergone no 

 sensible change during the putrifaction of this organ. It pre- 

 served t!ie property when dissolved in alcolioi to give it a green 

 colour, and to precipitate, on cooling, in a crystalline form, and 

 retaining ail its properties. 



2. Tr-.at a part only of the albumen was destroyed by the 

 fermentation, that from this decomposition a small quantity of 

 ammonia re^udted v/hich dissolved another portion of the albu- 

 jnen, and some acetic acid rendered sensible by the addition of 

 sulphuric acid. 



3. That the osmazome was not decomposed, at least completelvj 

 slnc(i its presence was still recognised in the concentrated liquids 



