1813.1 cind some other Animals, 34^ 



We conceive that the albu-men of the brain putrifies much 

 more speedily, and undergoes a more complete aheration, when 

 it is in contact with the air than when it is confined in a close 

 vessel. 



I do not know what the substance is which assumes a red 

 colour during the putrefaction of the brain. I thought at first 

 that it wab the substance which gives a green colour to alcohol; 

 but i gtive up that opinion when 1 saw that the cerebral matter 

 stiil communicated the same colour to alcohol after its putrifac- 

 tion. 



The cerebeUum of man, and the brain of herbivorous animals, 

 bei'j.; exarr-uied in the same manner, and witli the same precau- 

 tiu is, yleS :ea the same results, i propose to continue .these 

 researches on the brain of other classes of animals. 



Sect. XI, 



Of the medulla elongata^ and spinal marrow: 



The meduda elongata and spinal marrow are of the same 

 nati-re as the bm^n; but they contain much more fatty matter, 

 and Ivss aibuint-n, ozmazome, and Vv^ater. Hence tlie reason 

 why tiie '^piijal marrow has greater consistence than the brain. 



1 be spinal m.arrow comcraiiieates to alcohol, when boiled in 

 it, a blue colour, as the brain does. It contains, likewise, 

 superphosphate of potash. The portion insoluble in alcohol is 

 of the same nature as that of the brain; that is to say, albumen. 

 The fatty matter contains phosphorus, like that of the brain. 



Of the nerves. 



The nerves are likewise of the same nature as the brain ; bu 

 they contain much less fatty matter, and green colouring matter, 

 and much more albumen. They contain, besides, common fat, 

 which separates from them when treated with boiling alcohol^ 

 and deposites itself at the bottom of that liquid. 



The nerves deprived as much as possible of their fatty matter 

 by means of alcohol become semitransparent. Treated for a 

 long time in that state with boiling water, they do not dissolve; 

 but become white, opake, and swell up, obviously in conse- 

 quence of absorbing moisture. The water in which they were 

 boiled holds in solution a small quantity of matter; for the 

 infusion of nutgalls forms a precipitate in it, and the solution 

 properly evaporated yields a little jelly, derived probably from 

 the cellular texture which binds the nervous fibres together. 



After having been treated with alcohol and with water, the 

 nerve dissolves almost comletely in caustic potash. Only a few 

 flocks remain, not amounting to the hundredth part of the mass 

 employed. No ammonia is produced during the solution. 



