410 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
septum of the apparatus already described, to the depth of 
half an inch, and this floated upon a large quantity of water. 
In the course of some time the sugar, a crystalloid, by high 
diffusibility, separated itself from the gum and became dis¬ 
solved in the water, while the gum remained on the septum 
undiffused. Defibrinated blood having a few grains of 
arsenious acid in it, being similarly treated, was found to 
yield up the greater part of the acid to the water in the 
course of twentv-four hours. It is stated that the diffusate 
was so free from organic matter, that the arsenic could be 
readily precipitated by means of sulphuretted hydrogen, and 
weighed. 
“ The separating action of the septum by this process is 
called dialysis , under which designation a great revolution 
will doubtless be effected in the processes of proximate 
resolution. The applications of this method in judicial in¬ 
vestigations, in the detection of adulterations, and in re¬ 
searches into the subtle phenomena of animal and vegetable 
life, will be of immense value, because simple beyond all 
precedent in the history of chemical practice. Other, and 
apparently remote departments of science, will be aided by 
the discovery of dialysis; aud we shall not be long in 
learning, that we have a talisman to unlock some of the 
secrets of the molecular structure of bodies/’ 
Dr. Odling, speaking of the advantages likely to be 
derived from the discovery of dialysis, or the capability which 
some bodies have, and other bodies have not, of passing 
through membranes, and of the broad distinctions between 
the two classes of bodies, says :—“ It bids fair to open out an 
entirely new field of inquiry. The constant intervention of 
colloid septa in so many of the phenomena of animal and 
vegetable life, gives to the subject of dialysis a high physio¬ 
logical interest, and it will, doubtless, exercise an important 
influence on the progress of physiological research. It will 
also serve to explain many of the phenomena of inorganic 
nature, more especially in relation to bodies which are now 
crvstalline, but were once colloidal. It will also be of the 
greatest service in its applications to toxicology, pharmacy, 
and practical chemistry, by enabling us to effect a most 
