and Observations on the component Parts of Membrane. 351 



This Gorgonia was digested in boiling distilled water during 

 18 hours, and tinged it with pale yellow, 



Infusion of oak bark was then poured into the liquor, and 

 precipitated a small portion of gelatin. 



The pieces employed in the above experiment were next 

 boiled with lixivium of caustic potash, and formed a dark- 

 coloured animal soap ; at the same time, the phosphate of lime 

 was separated, and was gradually deposited at the bottom of the 

 matrass. 



Part of a large branch of this Gorgonia was exposed to a low 

 red heat. 



It immediately emitted a thick smoke, with the smell of 

 burned horn ; and, after a long continued heat, the phosphate of 

 lime was left, so as to retain the original figure, like bone which 

 has been burned ; but, in the present instance, the particles of 

 the mass cohered but feebly. 



When this residuum was dissolved, and the phosphate sepa- 

 rated in the usual manner, a slight cloud of carbonate of lime 

 was produced by potash. 



Antipathes TJlex. 



When this had been immersed 14, days in dilute nitric acid, 

 it became transparent, and so much softened, that from a horny 

 substance it now nearly resembled cartilage. The acid in 

 which it had been steeped, changed to a very deep yellow or 

 orange colour when ammoniac was added ; but no precipitate 

 could be obtained by this, or by potash. 



A portion of this Antipathes was digested with boiling distilled 

 water, from which some gelatin was precipitated afterwards by 

 infusion of oak bark. 



mdccc Z z 



