ON PYROXYLIC SPIRIT BY DUMAS AND PELIGOT. 
89 
SECOND EXPERIMENT,-A YOUNG 
GRIFFIN OF MEDIUM SIZE. 
Pectoralis major 1.572 inch deep 100’85 
Cellular tissue 0'393 ,, 99 5 
THIRD EXPERIMENT UPON B. 
Biceps at ...1*18 inch deep 97*7 
Cellular tissue 94*1 
FO U R r H EX P E R I M E N F U PON 
A DOG. — Muscle of the thi‘'h 101*3, Cel- 
lular tissue of the thigh 100'31, the Lung 
101*3, Abdomen 101*3. 
FIFTH SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS, 
WITH rVVO MULTIPLIERS. -A DOG. 
— Muscle of the thigh 100*85, Chest 101*9 
Brain (the two ends of the probe were ad- 
mitted by trepanning a small portion 100*85. 
From these experiments it appears that, 1. 
In man the temperature of the muscles ex- 
ceeds that of the cellular tissue by 4® and 
2. The mean temperature of the muscles of 
three young persons, aged 20 years, was 
found to be 98*186. With the common 
tlrermometer, Dr. Davy estimated the heat 
of the human body at 98*^; and Despretz 
found the mean temperature of nine men, 
aged 30 years, 98S'*85,* of four men, aged 
68, 98*^*83 ; of four men, aged 18 years, 98'58. 
While John Hunter found the temperature 
of the rectum of a healthy man between 979 
and 989. 
3. 'The mean temperature of the muscles of 
several dogs is 100'94; while Despretz makes 
it 1039'06. This difference may be attributed 
to accidental circumstances. It is to be ob- 
served, also, that the state of the health has 
an effect upon the temperature. The tem- 
perature of the brain was 100*85: this tem- 
perature was suddenly reduced some degrees, 
and in a few minutes the animal died. 
4. The temperature of the common carp 
was only about fg of a degree above that of 
water. 
5. The contraction of the muscles aug- 
ments the temperature, while the compression 
of an artery diminishes the temperature. 
Agitation, motion, and in general every thing 
which determines a flow of blood, tends to 
elevate the temperature. Whether the ner- 
vous system has any share in producing a 
rise of temperature remains to be determined.* 
PYROXYLlC~SPIRIT AND ITS 
COMPOUNDS. 
Dumas and Peligot have published an ela- 
borate examination of pyroxylic spirit, (Ann. 
de Chem. Iviii. 1.) which will be found inter- 
esting to British chemists, as this substance is 
becoming a very important article in the la- 
boratory. It was discovered by Philip Tay- 
lor, in 1812, who termed it pyroligneous 
ether, from the mode in which it is prepared. 
The lowest sp. gr. to which, as far as we are 
• Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. lix. 113. (It is 
to be regretted that the authors do not mention 
the season of the year when these experiments 
were made ; for, as has been remarked to me, 
by a distinguished comparative anatomist, the 
relative temperatures of fishes, and the medium 
in which they are placed, vary according to the 
»«ason.— Edit.) 
aware, it has been brought in this country, is 
*812. Dumas, however, states that its den- 
sity at the temperature of 68® is *798, and 
that of its vapour 1* 120, Its boiling point, 
according to the same authority, is 1519|, at 
a pressure of 38 inches. 
1. Pyroxylic Spirit, or Hydrate of^ Car- 
hydrogen . — For the purpose of analysis, the 
pyroxylic spirit was rectified with lime newly 
burned, and lastly distilled with mercury in a 
retort supplied with a thermometer which 
indicated the temperature from the 
beginning to the end of the process. Its 
composition was found to be, carbon, 37*7 ; 
hydrogen, 12 5; oxygen, 49*8 This agrees 
very nearly, taking into consideration the sp. 
gr., with 
1 vol carbon . . 
=*4166 = 
: 1 atom . 
. .75 
2 vols. hydrogen 
*1388 
2 atoms 
. . .25 
^ vol oxygen.... 
*5555 
1 atom . 
. 1* 
1*1111 
2*00 
Hence, this substance is a hydrate of car- 
bydrogen, CH X FIO. Dumas has, unne- 
cessarily, coined a new name to distinguish 
this base, viz. Methyleiie, (from wine, 
and wood), W hat advantage is gained 
by this innovation it is difficult even to guess 
at. The disadvantages of designating- simple 
compounds by arbitrary names (since tliis 
compound turns out to be one of the simplest 
organic compounds with which we are ac- 
quainted) are sufficiently obvious, and we 
trust that this name will not be adopted by 
British chemists. 
The existence of this simple compound of 
hydrogen and carbon in pyroxylic was de- 
monstrated in 1828 by Dr, Thomson. (Edin. 
Trans, xi. 15, Inorganic Chemistry, i. 
191, ii. 294.) It is difficult to allow our- 
selves to suspect that Dumas should have 
been ignorant of this fact, which ha.s been 
published for nine years, but in consequence 
of the absence of any allusion to it, it is im- 
possible, in charity, to avoid drawing such a 
conclusion. Dr. Thomson obtained the 
compound ofl atom carbon X 1 atom hy- 
drogen the basis of pyroxylic spirit, accoicl- 
ing to Dumas, by mixing 3 parts of muriatic 
acid, 1 part nitric acid, and 1 of pyroxylic 
spiiit, applying heat, and receiving the gas 
disengaged over mercury. The product was, 
a mixture of a new inflammable gas 29 parts, 
deutoxide of azote 63, azote 8. 
The new gas was composed oflvol. car- 
bon, 1 vol. hydrogen, and IJ chlorine, 
containing half an atom more chlorine than 
the chlrohydrate of methylene of Dumas, 
which was prepared by heating a mixture of *2 
parts of common salt, 1 part of pyroxylic 
spirit, and 3 parts of concentrated sulphuric 
acid, 
2. DIHYDRATE OF CARBYDRO- 
GEN, — If 1 partof pyroxylic spiiit be dis- 
tilled with4paits of sulphuric acid, asimi- 
lar appearance is presented as when alcohol 
and concentrated sulphuric acid are distilled. 
During the whole process much gas passes 
over, containing* sulphurous and carbonic 
acids, which may be removed by caustic- 
potash. A gas then remains, which is ab- 
sorbed by water, possesses an ethereal odour. 
