172 Mr. Gibbes on the Conversion of Animal Muscle 
end of a month it was perfectly to appearance changed to a 
mass of fatty matter. From some circumstances, I am induced 
to believe that it is sooner converted in running water than 
when it is perfectly at rest; for when this beef was exposed to 
the water in the river, a piece of mutton was placed 111 a reser- 
voir of water, and I perceived, that though the mutton was 
exposed for a longer time than the beef, yet it was not so much 
changed. 
Finding that this substance was so formed, and that cou 
procure large quantities of it, I tried some experiments to pu- 
rify it ; for this purpose I took several pieces of it and melted 
them, and 1 found, though they were brought into a closer 
union, yet the foetid smell was as bad as before. After trying 
some unsuccessful experiments, it occurred to me that if I could 
add a substance to it which would unite with the offensive parts 
and not with the fat, I might then get it pure ; accordingly 1 
poured some nitrous acid upon it, which immediately had the 
desired effect; a waxy smell was perceived, and on separating 
and melting it, I got it nearly pure. The nitrous acid turns it 
yellow, but by submitting it to the action of the oxygenated 
muriatic acid, I have got it quite white and pure. In the be- 
ginning of last June 1 buried a cow, in a place where, from the 
rising of a river to supply a mill twice a day, it was submitted 
to the action of running water. On taking this cow up in De- 
cember I found that where the water was constantly running 
over it, there it was changed into a fatty substance, but where 
the water which had acted on the meat could not pass off, 
there a very disagreeable smell was sensible, and the flesh was 
not so much changed. A piece of this cow, that was perfectly 
