386 Mr. Hatchett's Experiments on Zoophytes, 



was discharged; and, if the alkali was in excess, some coal 

 was deposited. 



12. When the animal soap was dissolved, diluted with dis- 

 tilled water, and filtrated, if an acid (such as the acetous, or 

 muriatic) was added, a copious precipitate was obtained, which 

 was re-dissolved by an excess of acid. 



13. This precipitate, being collected upon a filter, appeared at 

 first like a yellow or brownish viscid substance, which, when 

 dry, was like a thick coat of varnish, or dried white of egg, and 

 in like manner was brittle, and broke with a glossy fracture. 



14,. It burned like quill or tortoise-shell, leaving a spongy 

 coal ; and, when distilled, afforded products like those obtained 

 from the bodies abovementioned. 



15. It was not readily soluble in dilute acids ; and was acted 

 upon by nitric acid and ammoniac like the substances from 

 which it had been obtained ; the properties also of its solutions 

 in nitric acid and ammoniac were similar. 



16. With caustic lixivium of potash it readily combined, and 

 again formed animal soap. 



17. It was not quite so insoluble in boiling water as quill or 

 tortoise-shell ; and the water in which it had been boiled was 

 not only made turbid by nitro-muriate of tin, but yielded a 

 precipitate when infusion of oak-bark was added, after the 

 manner of gelatin. 



These experiments proved, that this precipitate was the same 

 as the original substance from which it had been obtained ; and 

 that the only change it had suffered, was that of being rendered 

 rather more soluble in boiling water. 



The whole series of experiments on the various bodies lately 



