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fail to illustrate that particular point, which attracts and most de- 
servedly claims our attention. 
The discovery to which I allude is one which plainly manifests, 
that, by the operations of natural chemistry, certain modifications of 
the principles of bodies take place, by which substances are formed 
resembling, in a great measure, the highly elaborated secretions of 
an animal body. The illustrious Bacon had declared, that pieces of 
flesh might be converted to a fatty substance by the help of mace- 
ration in water. Fourcroy discovered, and his discovery has been 
confirmed and illustrated by the observations and experiments of 
several learned and ingenious men in this country, that the muscular 
parts of animals, after being buried some time where water can 
have access to them, are changed into a peculiar fatty substance, 
nearly resembling, in many respects, spermaceti ; and to which sub- 
stance he has given the name of adipocire. 
Thus we perceive that dead animal matter may, by a piocess 
carried on in the mineral kingdom, be converted to a totally dif- 
ferent substance, and to one approximating, in its appearance and 
nature, to another kind of animal matter, the product of a secre- 
tory organization. To repeat the numerous experiments by which 
this has been fully ascertained, would be here out of place. The 
fact is incontrovertible, and confirms, by anabgy, the opinion, that 
the organized matters of vegetables are likewise susceptible of a cor- 
respondent change, if placed under appropriate circumstances. 
Another substance, found among the peat, requires also to be 
spoken of, particularly in this place ; since it appears to me, that the 
ambiguity which obscures its origin is likely to be best removed, by 
the discovery to which I have just called your attention. 
This substance has been hitherto called Mineral Tallow, and is 
thus spoken of by our justly celebrated mineralogist, Mr. Kirwan. 
This is a substance very rarely met with, and therefore ver)' im- 
