( 49 * ) 
I have for fome Time applied my felf to examine 
the feveral Parts of the human Body, whether folid 
or fluid, and by ehymical Proceffes to dilfolve them 
into their primitive or conftituent Parts. 
Thus, for Inftance, I have found, that the folid 
Subftance of the Bones, and the circumambient Parts, 
is compofed of Phlegm, Oil, an alcaline volatile 
Salt, and a little Earth. The fame Principles 1 have 
alfo conftantly difcovered in the Blood, and all the 
other Fluids, which are fecreted from it, as well as 
the other folid Parts, with this Difference only, that 
there is more Phlegm, and lefs Oil and volatile 
Salt in the Fluids, than may be extraded from the 
Solids. 
Carrying thefe Experiments dill further, and en- 
deavouring to extrad via humida , as the Chy miffs 
call it, the Salt from the Excrements in the Stomach 
and Inteftins, I have conftantly found a Salt not un- 
like Sea-falt, and appearing upon Examination to be a 
perfed Acid. 
And yet, with all poffible Art and Carefulnefs 
whatever, nothing of this acid Salt could ever be 
obtained from all the other folid, or fluid Parts of 
the Body. 
Hence it appears how much thofe muft be miftaken, 
who have hitherto afferted, that the Caufe of the 
Gout is a coagulating Acid exifting in the Blood, iince 
nothing of an Acid is found in any Part of the Body, 
but the Excrements. This put me upon thinking, 
that the Caufe of the Gout may be owing, perhaps, to 
that other faline Principle which ehymical Trials 
ftiew us to exift both in the folid and fluid Parts: 
And 
