[341 ] 
cxprefilon) fupra-faturated with the acid [«], which 
in putrid dileafes cannot be the cafe. And far- 
ther, a heat of 212° of Fahrenheit never can in- 
creafe the action of the acids in living bodies, as it 
did in the experiments ; forj though Dr. M‘Bride 
denies this confequence, and will prove the contrary, 
as the flefli with the alcali did not diffolve j yet this 
circumftance proves nothing more, than that the vo- 
latile alcali has not fuch power of diiTolving the 
gluten of animal fibres, as acids have; for, if the 
cffedt depended only on the adtion of the acids by 
themfelves, the fleOi would rather have been diffolved 
when immerfed in them, than when boiled in 
water. — The Dodor befides feems not quite confident 
on this head ; for, p. 1 51, he fays, “ Adflringents can 
only ‘‘ be of importance in thole cafes, where, from 
“ extreme relaxation and refolution of the folids, the 
“ diffolved fluids are fuffered to tranfude, and either 
“ form fpots of different hues, or run off by adtual 
“ haemorrhage ; here, indeed, the acid of vitriol, as 
an aflringent, not as an acid, is found of great ufe 
“ in gaining time.” As the acid could not exert its 
aflringent power on the veflels, without coming to the 
fecund^ vice (p. 153.) he feems not afraid, in this 
cafe, of its melting down the mod folid parts to a 
jelly. 
In proof of his third reaforiy he alledges fome 
experiments ; viz< the third, p. 40, where a mixture ot 
Jiejh, bread, lemon juice, and faliva, did not effer- 
vefce, after fermentation with an alcali ; and the 5th, 
[«] This has, it feems, happened in fom$ rare cafes quoted by 
Dr. M‘Bride, and Dr. Haller, p. 148. 
p. 42, 
