878 
SIR J. B. LA.WES AND DR, J. H. GILBERT ON THE COMPOSITION 
case of the pigs, the ash of the head and feet, and that of the other offal parts, were 
analysed separately, the ash of the former, due largely to bone, showed some excess of 
base even calculating the whole of the phosphoric acid as tribasic, whilst the ash of 
the other offal parts (the soft parts, blood, &c.) showed, on the same mode of reckoning, 
about one and a half time as much acid as base ; indeed of phosphoric acid alone there 
is, so reckoned, very much more than is equivalent to the total bases. Here then 
there is evidence that the ash of the soft parts contains phosphoric acid with less than 
three of fixed base, and probably some due to the oxidation of phosphorus. In further 
elucidation of the point in question it may be stated that, although the oxen and 
sheep show a higher percentage of total nitrogenous substance than the pigs, yet the 
amount of pure ash yielded from the non-bony parts is higher in proportion to that 
from the bones in the case of the pigs than in that of the ruminants. That is to say, 
there is with the pigs a higher proportion of the ash due to parts containing more 
potash and soda, and less lime and magnesia as base ; and so far as phosphoric acid 
may have existed in the animal substance in combination with potash and soda as 
ortho-phosphates with water or ammonia also as base, the calculation of the whole of 
the phosphoric acid of the ash as tribasic (as in our illustration) would necessarily 
show a relative deficiency of base. 
Examination of the Table will show, as might be expected, that the ash of the 
carcass parts contains a much higher percentage of potash than of soda. This is the 
case with both the ruminants and the pigs. But with the relative deficiency of lime 
in the carcass-ash of the pigs, there is a higher percentage of both potash and soda 
than in that of the ruminants. The distinction between the different animals on 
these points is chiefly due to the less proportion of ash from bone in the case of the 
pigs ; but it may in paid be due to the thick skin being included with the carcass in 
the case of the pigs, whilst in that of the other animals the skin is not so included. 
The ash of the offal parts, including that of the blood, but comparatively little of 
that of bones, contains, in the case of the ruminants, generally a much higher 
percentage of both potash and soda than that of the carcass parts, but the proportion 
of soda to potash is much greater. In the offal ash of the pigs on the other hand 
(which does not include the ash of the skin) the percentage of both potash and soda 
is considerably lower than in that of the sheep, and the soda considerably lower than 
in that of the oxen also. 
Reference to Appendix-Table II. (p. 886) will show that in the ash of the offal parts 
of the pigs excluding the skin and the head and feet, there is only between 3 and 4 
per cent, of lime, but about 25 per cent, of potash, and nearly 15 per cent, of soda; 
whilst in the ash of the head and feet there is nearly 50 per cent, of lime, only 
between 1 and 2 per cent, of potash, and between 2 and 3 per cent, of soda. Again, 
as above referred to, there was a considerable excess of acid, especially phosphoric, in 
the ash of the non-bony portions. 
Comparing the percentage composition of the ashes of the entire bodies of the 
