,transcriber's ,notes ,obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected4 ,variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged4 ,temperatures ranges1 variously expressed as #ed-ee1 #ed1 #ee and #ed #ee1 have been standardised as #ed-ee4 ,fractional temperatures have been standardised as ,,xx4,x ,italics are represented thus italic1 superscripts thus yn1 subscripts as yn4 ,,on ,,adipocire1 ,,and ,,its ,,formation4 ,,by ,,charles ,m4 ,,wetherill1 ,,ph4,d4 ,m4,d4 ,from the ,transactions of the ,american ,philosophical ,society4 ,the formation of fat is interesting1 both from a chemical and a physiological point of view4 ,the relation of lignine starch and sugar to alcohol1 afforded reasons for ,liebig's theory of the formation of fat in the body4 ,recent experiments by ,liebig1 ,bopp1 ,guckelberger1 ,keller and others1 on the formation of the lower terms of the series of fatty acids by the oxidation and putrefaction of the blood-forming substances1 rendered possible the formation of the higher members1 from albumen1 fibrin and caseine1 by similar means1#a for example1 by a less intense degree of oxidation4 ,it was thought that the study of adipocire1 with a view to this question1 would perhaps throw some light upon it2 and upon reading all the articles within my reach1 upon this body1 from the time of its discovery by ,fourcroy1 ,i find a considerable difference of opinion with regard to it4 ,in #aghe1 ,fourcroy examined a portion of a liver which had hung for ten years in the air in the laboratory of de la ,salle2 it was fatty1 smooth1 and unctuous to the touch4 ,potash lye dissolved a portion of the liver completely1 forming a soap4 ,subsequently1 when he had examined the fat of grave yards1 and spermaceti1 he proposed to name these three fats1 viz43 of biliary calculi1 spermaceti1 and from grave yards1 adipocire1 considering them to be identical1 and possessing an intermediate nature between fat and wax4 ,chevreul1 in his fifth ,memoire1 corrects this error1 and calls the fat of gall stones cholesterine1 and that of spermaceti cetine4 ,in #aghf-g1 ,fourcroy had an opportunity of studying the fat of grave yards1 in the removal of the bodies from the ,cemetire des ,innocens1 a work which lasted for two years1 and which was supervised by ,dr4 ,thouret1 who was placed there to care for the health of the workmen4 ,the substance was abundantly found1 and especially in the 8fouilles10 or ditches1 where the slightly made coffins of the poorer classes had been piled one upon another2 the trench being open for some time until it was filled with bodies1 when it was covered with a slight quantity of earth2 on opening the trenches after some fifteen years1 the bodies were converted into adipocire2 they were flattened by mutual pressure1 and had impressions on their surface of the grave clothes4 ,fourcroy's analysis proved it to be a soap of ammonia1 with phosphate of lime1 and the fat1 melted at #eb4e ,c4#b ,he supposed adipocire to arise from the putrefaction of all animal matter1 except hair1 nails1 and bones1 for he states that in the carcasses of all animals exposed upon the borders of pieces of water1 a fatty1 white1 fusible substance resembling spermaceti is found4 ,perhaps the earliest record on this change from flesh to fat1 is to be found in ,lord ,bacon's ,sylva ,sylvarum1 where he says1 7article ,fat17 8,nearly all flesh may be turned into a fatty substance1 by cutting it into pieces and putting it into a glass covered with parchment1 then letting the glass stand six or seven hours in boiling water40 ,this may be a profitable experiment for making fat or grease2 but then it must be practised upon such flesh as is not edible1 viz43 that of horses1 dogs1 bears1 foxes1 badgers1 c4 ,george ,smith ,gibbes1 #agid1 observed that in ,oxford1 in the pits where were thrown the remains of dissections1 and at the bottom of which flowed a gentle current of water1 large quantities of adipocire were formed4 ,he placed a piece of beef in the river in a box pierced with holes1 and also a piece in which putrefaction in the air had commenced1 and adipocire resulted in both cases4 ,he proposes to make use of this property to utilize the dead bodies of animals1 and states that nitric acid will effect the same change in three or four days4 ,john ,bostock 7,nicholson's ,journal1 ,march1 #ahjc17 digested muscular fibre with dilute nitric acid1 and washed with water3 the result was a clear1 yellow fat1 of the consistence of tallow1 melting at #cc ,c4 ,is less soluble in alcohol than ,fourcroy's substance3 the greater part deposits nearly white on cooling1 and the residue can be precipitated from the alcohol by water4 ,hot ether dissolves it and abandons it on cooling2 caustic alkali forms a soap2 ammonia dissolves but little of the fat4 ,chevreul1 on repeating this experiment with pure fibrine1 could obtain no fat4 ,hartkol1 7,ure's ,dict4 art4 ,adipocire17 experimented for twenty-five years on adipocire1 and concluded that it is not formed in dry grounds1 that in moist earth the fat does not increase1 but changes to a fetid mass1 incapable of being made into candles4 ,animals in running water leave a fat after three years1 which is more abundant in the intestines than in the muscles1 and more fat is formed in stagnant1 than in running water4 ,chevreul1 #ahab1 found the fat of church yards to contain margaric and oleic acids1 combined with yellow colouring and odorous matters1 also lime1 potash1 oxide of iron1 lactic acid salts and azotized matter4 ,he supposes the fatty acids are liberated from their glycerine by ammonia1 which subsequently itself escapes1 and that adipocire is thus formed from the original fat of the body4 ,gay ,lussac1 7,an4 de ,ch4 et de ,ph4 iv4 #ga17 adopts the same views4 ,he subjected finely chopped muscular fibre deprived of its fat by ether1 to the action of water1 and did not succeed in forming adipocire4 ,von ,bibra1 7,annalen der ,chem4 und ,ph4 #ef1 p4 #ajf17 in an examination of the flesh of the leg of a ,peruvian mummy1 a child1 obtained #ai4g per cent1 of fat1 which he supposes to have been formed from the muscles4 ,in comparison1 dry human muscle from several analyses by himself1 gives nine per cent4 of fat4 ,the muscular fibre of the mummy1 after treatment with ether1 presented the same appearance under the microscope1 as fresh muscle placed in the same circumstances4 ,bibra states in the same article1 that he is fully convinced of the change of muscle to fat1 having obtained a human corpse in which all the parts of flesh were nearly wholly converted into fat4 ,blondeau1 7,comptes ,rendus1 ,sep4 #fth1 #ahdg1 and ,ch4 ,gazette1 same year1 p4 #dbb17 arrived at the same conclusion from an examination of the ,roquefort cheese manufacture4 ,this cheese is placed in dark1 damp1 cool cellars to ripen4 ,before this treatment1 the cheese contained #abjj of its weight of fat1 and after two months in the cellars the caseine was almost wholly converted into a fat1 which melts at #dj1 boils at #hj1 and decomposes at #aej;,c4 ,the unaltered caseine could be removed from it1 by mere melting with boiling water4 ,in an additional experiment1 a pound of beef free from fat was slightly salted1 surrounded with paste1 and placed in a cellar2 after two months1 it had undergone no putrid decomposition1 and was converted1 for the greater part1 into a fatty body1 presenting the greatest analogy to hog's lard4 ,in these instances a number of parasite plants are observed on the material1 and it is necessary to scrape the cheese from time to time1 to free it from these mycodermic plants1 which are reproduced with fresh energy4 ,as these plants require ammonia for their development1 ,blondeau supposes it can only come from the nitrogen of its caseine1 and that fat is one of the results of the caseine decomposition4 ,gregory1 7,annalen der ,chem4 und4 ,ph4 #fa1 p4 #cfb17 examined the adipocire of a fat hog which had died of sickness1 and had been buried for fifteen years in moist ground2 at the bottom of the grave was the adipocire in a layer hardly an inch in thickness2 it contained stearic and margaric and oleic acids1 together with from #a4e to #c4e per cent4 lime4 ,the glycerine was all gone1 and so was the bone earth1 which together with the flesh were removed1 as ,gregory supposes1 by the carbonic acid of the rain water1 leaving the original fatty acids of the body4 ,prof4 ,hnefeld1 7,jour4 fr ,pr4 ch4 #g1 p4 #di17 examined a loaf of rye bread1 which had been buried for at least eighty years in a turf-moor1 and found #b4b per cent4 of a waxy or fatty substance1 and he refers to an examination by ,bracconot1 of a mouldered wheat bread containing1 among other substances1 a fatty body4 ,hnefeld supposes that the substance of the bread was displaced by the turf material1 the form of the loaf being retained2 and admits the possibility of the bread substance partaking in part a change into resin and waxy humus4 ,r4 ,wagner1 7,ch4 ,gazette1 vol4 #i1 p4 #cjf17 transplanted the recently removed testicles of rabbits and frogs into the abdominal cavity of fowls2 the testicles of fowls into other fowls and pigeons1 those of pigeons into fowls1 and fresh crystalline lens into fowls and pigeons which were killed after ten or fifteen days4 ,the testicles of frogs contained three per cent4 of fat1 which was augmented to #e4ae per cent4 ,in one case the crystalline lens1 after the experiment1 contained #dg4hf per cent4 of fat2 in a number of other experiments on lenses1 the result was of from #g to #ae per cent4 of fat1 calculated for the dry substance of the lens2 carefully cleaned portions of frog intestines filled with coagulated blood of pigeons and calves1 fat free muscle from the thigh of a frog1 and boiled white of hen's egg1 in similar conditions1 all gave fat4 ,these experiments were repeated by ,husson and ,burdach1#c enveloping the nitrogenized substances in bags or coatings of gutta percha1 caoutchouc and collodion4 ,they found the substance well preserved1 but no change into fat2 so that admission of the animal juices must conduce to it1 if the change be possible4 ,burdach placed porous vegetable substances1 as wood and tinder1 in the abdominal cavity1 and found a deposit of fat on them1 and which was imbibed in the pores1 which speaks against the change in question4 ,finally1 ,burdach determined the fat of the egg of ,linnus stagnalis1 and detected a considerable increase of it during the development of the embryo2 but1 on the other hand1 the egg contains sugar from which the fat could have been formed2 and in opposition to this the quantity of sugar in hens' eggs has been noticed rather to increase than diminish during incubation4 ,quain ,virchow quoted by ,lehmann1#d examined muscle changed in macerating troughs to adipocire1 and are of opinion that the fibrine is here changed to fat4 ,i have questioned my medical friends1 who have had experience in this matter1 and find them to hold the same opinions4 ,prof4 ,leidy1 who macerated with water the bodies of small animals1 in stoppered bottles1 to obtain their skeletons1 found that the deposition of adipocire upon the bones was quite abundant4 ,the physiological question of the formation of fat1 has been fully discussed within the past ten years1 and it has been proven by diet and analysis1 that herbivorous animals possess more fat than is taken in their food2 but whether the fat be formed wholly from non-nitrogenized or from nitrogenized bodies1 or partially from both1 is yet undecided4 ,pathological considerations from the fatty degeneration of several of the organs1 where the fat is found both within and without the cell1#e appear likewise to have divided scientific men as to its origin1 whether from a change of the proteine compounds of the organs1 or from an abnormal plastic activity4 ,the connexion of the organs of generation with the deposit of fat1 and the increase of the latter after castration1 is worthy of consideration2 for the cutting off the supply of the highly albuminous semen1 gives an impulse to the fat formation4 ,the flesh and the fat of the body stand in an intimate relation to each other1 and neither the non-nitrogenized nor the nitrogenized diet exclusively is conducive to health4 ,repose is necessary1 7with a proper diet17 to the formation of fat1 and as the activity of the muscles requires their reparation from the food1 perhaps it is as much this wearing away by activity1 that hinders the formation of fat1 as the increased combustion by the quickened respiration4 ,it therefore appears to me probable that both classes of food conduce to the fat formation4 ,it was thought that the study of adipocire would throw some light upon the question1 whether fat be formed from proteine compounds1 and ,i was surprised to find the great difference of opinion as to the formation and nature of this body1 and in general1 as to the changes that bodies undergo in grave yards4 ,these various changes are ascribed by undertakers to the nature of the soil1 to its dryness or moisture2 but in a late removal of a grave yard in this city1 some bodies were found converted into adipocire1 the graves of which were contiguous to those in which decomposition had advanced to its full extent1 leaving nothing but the skeleton4 ,the preservation of some bodies seems inexplicable1 according to our present knowledge1 of which ,i may cite the well known case of ,general ,washington1 7who was not embalmed17 who having reposed in his tomb for more than forty years1 was so perfectly preserved1 as to have been recognised from the resemblance of his portraits4 ,the problems proposed for this research were3-- #ast4 ,the chemical examination of different kinds of adipocire4 #b;d4 ,to watch the decomposition of flesh with water1 and imitating the condition of a body in moist ground4 ,with regard to the first of these1 ,i possessed the following specimens of adipocire3 7a7 ,two from sheep buried at the country seat of the late ,j4 ,p4 ,wetherill4 7b7 ,two from human subjects1 which ,i obtained myself from a grave yard4 7c7 ,from a fossil ox1 presented by ,prof4 ,leidy4 7a7 ,,sheep ,,adipocire4 ,specimens of this adipocire were presented to the ,academy of ,natural ,sciences1 by my uncle1 who found them at his country seat1 opposite ,valley ,forge1 buried in moist ground1 near a drain which led water from a spring-house4 ,about ten years previously1 the shepherd in charge of a flock of sheep indulged in a drunken spree1 and in the meanwhile some fifteen of the sheep in his care died from neglect1 and were buried in the above mentioned spot4 ,my uncle1 who was present at the exhumation of the sheep1 stated that in some of the remains1 the exterior forms of the muscles were very distinct4 ,the two specimens ,i obtained were in lumps1 amorphous under the microscope1 floating on water2 of greasy feel1 and rank mutton smell1 mingled with a peculiar disagreeable fundamental smell1 that ,i have observed in all my specimens of adipocire1 including the fossil one4 ,heated in a capsule with water1 a transparent fat floats melted on the surface2 heated alone in a platinum crucible1 it melts and burns with a smoky flame1 leaving a slight residue1 which effervesces with hydrochloric acid1 and contains beside sand and a little iron1 principally lime4 ,under the microscope with moderate powers1 it is white1 fatty1 and granular1 disappearing with ,canada balsam2 with higher powers it is amorphous3 melted on the glass slide covered with thin glass1 is crystalline on cooling1 in groups of plumose crystals1 which give a beautiful play of colours with polarized light2 a drop of its weak alcoholic solution evaporated spontaneously on glass gave the same appearance of crystallization4 ,water added to this solution precipitated it in the form of a pure white amorphous powder3 distilled per se1 leaves a slight carbonaceous residue1 and gives a volatile fat1 yellowish1 and cryst1 on cooling4 ,this volatile fat is soluble in hot alcohol1 and precipitates partly on cooling4 ,the weight of material was seventy grammes2 it was melted in the water bath1 and filtered through paper in a hot funnel2 the filtered solidified fat was of a light coffee colour1 and weighed fifty-four grammes2 in a capillary tube1 is soft at #ed1 fluid at #fb2 on cooling becomes opaque at #ej4 ,when pressed in paper1 the latter is greased by oleic acid2 it contains no ammonia1 nor any nitrogen by the potassium test2 the residue on the filter 7together with the filter7 was boiled with alcohol1 filtered hot on a weighed filter1 and washed with alcohol4 ,this alcoholic solution deposited twelve grammes of fatty acid1 by spontaneous evaporation1 during the summer4 ,the crystals at first deposited were white and warty2 a portion of the alcoholic solution on a glass slide1 exhibited with the microscope1 white1 curved dendritic forms1 arranged stellate2 in the capillary tube1 they begin to melt at #ec1 are fluid at #fb1 and on cooling begin to cloud at #eh1 and are opaque at #ej4 ,the residue on the filter weighed about four grammes1 and viewed under the microscope1 consisted of membranous matter1 wool1 dirt1 and the white element of cellular tissue2 it gave ammonia with potassa solution1 and nitrogen by ,laissaigne's test1 together with a strong smell of phosphuretted hydrogen when the water was added in the latter test4 ,this residue burned1 gave thirty per cent4 of ash4 ,the following is the per centage result for the adipocire3-- ,solid fatty acids1 a little oleic acid1 and coally matter1 #id4b ,membranous matter and cellular tissue1 #b4c ,ash and dirt1 #c4e ---------- #ajj4j ,the portion of fatty acid which passed through the filter by melting1 contained #j4gc per cent4 of a dark-coloured ash1 principally lime1 with iron1 and traces of phosphoric and sulphuric acids1 potash and soda4 ,the potash and soda were detected by ,dr4 ,lawrence ,smith's beautiful method by polarized light1 which ,i have frequently used with success4 ,in this instance1 the quantity of material was so small1 that neither the potash nor soda could be detected by the usual method4 ,an experiment was tried to ascertain whether the fatty acids would dissolve phosphate of lime4 ,about six or eight grammes of fatty acid1 7the residue from the hot press of the candle factories1 crystallized from much alcohol1 and of which one gramme left no appreciable ash by experiment7 were kept for half an hour melted with pulverized bone ashes4 ,one gramme of this gave an ash of only a quarter of a milligramme2 when this was dissolved in hydrochloric acid and neutralized by ammonia1 it was impossible to conclude whether there was a precipitate or not4 ,sixty grammes of the fatty acids were then saponified with potash lye1 according to ,chevreul's proportions1 during which operation neither ammonia nor cholesterine could be detected4 ,the soap was decomposed by tartaric acid1 and washed several times by melting with water2 it dissolved thus in alcohol with reddish brown colour1 and after filtering hot1 was suffered to deposit the greater part of its fat on cooling4 ,the crystals thus deposited were nacreous scales1 and of lustre like the feathers of moth wings2 when melted1 they weighed #bf grammes1 and had a goat-like smell2 by further standing1 the alcohol deposited four grammes of very translucent crystals1 with traces of stellar groupings4 ,a third crop of crystals by spontaneous evaporation was obtained1 which was small in quantity1 weighing #j4f grammes1 and1 when melted1 cooled with a flat1 waxy1 surface1 with traces of stellar aggregations4 ,the mother alcohol of this last crystallization1 was treated with an alcoholic solution of acetate of lead4 ,the lead salts1 treated in the usual manner by ether1 yielded a few drops of very highly coloured oleic acid4 ,from the insoluble lead salts1 the fat was separated4 ,the alcoholic solution from which the oleate and other lead salts were precipitated by acetate of lead1 was evaporated to dryness1 and treated by ether1 when another portion of oleic acid was obtained4 ,it results from this that the quantity of oleic acid in the adipocire is small4 ,the greater portion of the lead salt was insoluble in ether and alcohol1 its fat was separated and added to the first crop of crystals which fell from the alcoholic solution of the fat from saponification4 ,to ascertain whether any glycerine was in combination with the fatty acids in the adipocire1 the aqueous solution from which the crop was precipitated by tartaric acid during the purification of the fat1 was heated1 filtered from small fat globules1 and after removing the tartar deposit1 subjected to distillation4 ,the acid residue of the retort was neutralized by carb4 potash1 and after evaporating on the water bath was exhausted with absolute alcohol1 which proved the absence of glycerine1 as it gave on evaporating nothing but a small residue of colouring matter1 which was yellow1 and of a bitter taste4 ,the distillate in this experiment had a goat-like smell1 and it was doubtful whether it reacted acid to litmus paper4 ,baryta water was added to alkaline reaction1 for which but a small quantity was needed1 and the solution evaporated4 ,there was but little residue1 which1 on the addition of a drop of hydrochloric acid and water1 emitted a rancid smell1 but no oil globule appeared2 the volatile fatty acids may1 therefore1 be considered to be present in the adipocire only in faint traces4 ,the following melting points were obtained3--,the first crop of crystals from the alcoholic solution of the fat after saponification1 which1 when melted1 cooled with a stellated surface1 tried three times by dipping the thermometer bulb in the melted solution1 and noting the temperature when it became opaque1 gave #ee for the solidifying point4 ,in a capillary tube1 begins to melt at #eg1 fluid at #ei1 on cooling1 opaque at #ee2 this portion was taken from the capsule on melting the fat1 before the whole mass was melted3 another portion taken when all was fluid1 and after stirring1 gave the same results4 ,the crystalline appearance of the second crop of crystals from the alcoholic solution after saponification1 when melted and suffered to cool in a capsule1 is similar to that of the first crop2 in the capillary tube1 begins to melt at #ec1 fluid at #ed-ee1 on cooling1 crystals form in the tube at #ea1 and is opaque at #ej4 ,the melting point of the third crop of crystals was #ej4e4 ,in ascertaining the melting points of the different fats described in this paper1 ,i tried the various modes in use1 and settled at first upon the following3--,a beaker of distilled water 7which must be boiled just before using1 to prevent air globules settling upon the capillary tubes1 which would falsify the result7 is placed upon wire gauze upon a retort stand in front of a window1 the thermometer hangs1 by a string1 in this water from another stand1 and the lamp must be moveable from under the beaker glass4 ,a piece of string is tied so loosely around the top of the 7cylindrical7 mercury reservoir of the thermometer1 that the different capillary tubes may be readily slipped in and out on raising the thermometer from the water2 the heat from the lamp must be such that the temperature of the water rises gradually2 the capillary tubes are so placed that they lie closely to the mercury of the thermometer1 and when the temperature approaches the melting point1 the water is stirred with the thermometer to equalize the heat1 the lamp is then removed1 and the point of solidification observed in the usual way4 ,i doubt very much the use of noting the point of solidification1 as it is influenced so much by extraneous circumstances4 ,the cooling of water and certain salts below their solidifying points1 is well known1 and the same must take place in these instances4 ,heintz has noticed how the thermometer rose ten degrees in determining the solidifying point of melted human fat4 ,in one of my experiments1 the fat in the tube was separated by minute air globules into three or four columns1 quite close together2 in observing the fusing point1 they all melted at the same instant2 but in solidifying1 one would be quite clear while those on either side had become opaque1 no matter how much the tube was stirred or vibrated by striking the beaker glass4 ,after having observed this in several instances1 ,i abandoned taking the points of solidification1 and modified the process for the fusing point1 by keeping the water as near that point as possible1 and repeatedly lifting the thermometer and attached capillary tube out of the water for a few seconds1 that the fat might solidify1 and noting the fusing point as that at which it at once becomes liquid2 this point is reached twice2 first1 when the water is being heated1 and secondly1 as it is cooling3 ,i have found by repetition of the same experiment1 that the degree thus obtained1 is constant from the first1 and ,i think gives the most accurate results4 ,the mode of using capillary tubes for the fusing points1 is convenient1 as1 at the close of the experiment1 they can be sealed at the open end1 and placed on a card with descriptions1 for future reference4 ,i weighed the quantity of fat in one instance1 and found that half a milligramme was much more than enough to obtain the melting point with the capillary tube4 7b7 ,,human ,,adipocire4 ,towards the close of the year #ahec1 ,i visited a grave yard in ,philadelphia1 the remains of which were being removed1 and from which1 through the kindness of the superintendent1 ,i obtained specimens of adipocire and valuable information4 ,the surface of the burial ground was depressed about four or six feet below that of the neighbouring streets1 and was of a very moist nature4 ,many of the bodies were converted more or less into adipocire1 and of these1 all had been large persons4 ,there was none among the remains of children4 ,i obtained specimens from two persons4 ,no4 #a1 was from a large man1 which had been buried from ten to fifteen years2 the ground was very moist1 and the coffin rotten2 the grave was seven feet deep4 ,the adipocire was from the middle of the coffin1 and was in irregular lumps4 ,no4 #b1 was from a very large man2 buried five or six years2 the ground moist1 though not so much so as number one2 the grave five feet deep4 ,the ground around the coffin was of a bloody colour1 and all of the body was decayed1 except the lower portion4 ,the shape of the rump was plain1 and the legs separate2 the fat was at the bottom of the coffin1 and the bones 7femur1 tibia7 were lying along it4 ,the adipocire contained an impression of the bone1 was spongy and dark-coloured on the inside2 and on the outside it was smooth1 white1 and presented impressions of the grave clothes1 and here and there appearances as if of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands1 but which lost this appearance when viewed with the microscope4 ,there was no hair on this specimen4 ,the pieces of adipocire of this specimen were large1 at the thickest part being about three inches in thickness2 they presented the shape of different parts of the leg1 though flattened2 tough fibrous bands1 like aponeuroses1 were seen in some parts traversing the mass of fatty matter4 ,the appearance of these two specimens with the microscope1 was very similar to each other and to the sheep adipocire4 ,powder scraped from them1 with a fine needle1 gave no appearance of fat globules1 but irregular masses1 mingled with membranous matter2 a portion sliced off with a sharp knife1 presented by reflected light1 brilliant1 white1 irregular fatty fragments1 but no traces of globules4 ,when alcohol was added with heat1 the fat disappeared1 leaving membranous matter1 and fibres not-anastomosing 7the white element of cellular tissue47 ,the addition of acetic acid causes the fibres to disappear1 and without showing nuclei4 ,portions of number one presented an appearance as if of the hair follicles1 and there were mingled with it cylindrical hairs1 of an inch and a half in length1 brownish in colour1 and quite fine4 ,from these hairs1 and from its position in the coffin1 adipocire number one probably came from the abdomen4 ,the fat from this portion gave the same appearance under the microscope1 as specimen number two4 ,the alcoholic solution of the fat evaporated on the microscope slide1 gave the appearance of stellated dendritic crystals1 with curved branches1 resembling the so called margaric acid under the same circumstances4 ,the whole mass of fat in the two specimens1 seems to be entangled in a web of disintegrated membrane1 and fibrous tissue4 ,i have never been able to detect any traces of muscular fibre under the microscope2 and ,dr4 ,leidy1 who was kind enough to examine specimens with the microscope1 communicated to me the same results4 ,the smell of the two specimens was peculiar2 what might be called an adipocire smell2 for ,i have observed it in all specimens of adipocire that ,i have examined4 ,this smell is indescribable1 the nearest approach to it being that of fces1 but it is much more disagreeable4 ,the following melting points were observed from the original adipocire1 melted per se in watch glasses1 and the fat taken up in capillary tubes4 ,in these specimens1 7a7 was taken from parts with little1 and 7b7 from parts with much cellular tissue3 fuses at #ef 7a7 solidifies #ej ,no4 #a4 fuses #ej 7b7 solidifies #dc-dd fuses #ee 7a7 solidifies #ej ,no4 #b4 fuses #ee 7b7 solidifies #ej ,they commenced to melt a little below and to solidify a little above these points1 which were taken for perfect fluidity or opacity4 ,generally in solidifying1 the crystallization commenced at one point1 and spread gradually through the capillary tube4 ,the density varied with different portions of one and two1 from below #j4gdhg to #a4j1 and was ascertained1 by immersing specimens 7freed from external air globules7 in ether of the above density1 alcohol of density #j4hcfe1 and distilled water4 ,the ash1 no doubt1 varied also2 but the following determinations were made with the whitest portions of one and two3 viz43 those of the density of ether4 ,no4 #a1 contained #j4egc per cent4 of ash1 7#a4ace gave #j4jjfe7 which effervesced with acid1 and contained principally1 lime1 with traces of chlorine1 sulphuric and phosphoric acid1 also iron1 potassa soda1 and 7doubtful7 magnesia4 ,the melting point of this portion was #eb-ec4 ,no4 #b1 gave #j4ah per cent4 of ash1 7#a4aji gave #j4jjb7 which contained the same substances as number one4 ,the melting point of this fat was #ec-ee4 ,the two specimens of adipocire were melted with about one and a half times their weight of ordinary alcohol1 filtered hot1 washed a couple of times with hot alcohol1 and pressed1 the residue being weighed4 ,this gives an approximate per centage of the membranous and fibrous matter1 which is rather too low1 owing to a little fat remaining in the residue and filter4 ,the specimens of adipocire were picked as far as practicable from dark pieces4 ,no4 #a1 #cfj grammes1 gave nine of residue1 or a per centage of ,fat colouring matter and water1 #ig4h ,organic tissue1 #b4b ---------- #ajj4j ,no4 #b1 #iig grammes adipocire1 gave twenty-seven residue1 or per cent4 ,fat colouring matter and water1 #ig4c ,organic tissue1 #b4g ---------- #ajj4j ,the fats were then saponified with ,potassa2 ,no4 #a by ,chevreul's process1 and ,no4 #b by ,heintz's process with alcohol4 ,the soaps were precipitated several times1 by solution of common salt2 no ammonia nor cholesterine were detected during the process2 a heavy1 flocculent soap fell during the melting1 which was examined1 and found to be a soap of alumina1 oxide of iron and magnesia2 probably from impurities in the salt4 ,no glycerine was present 7by direct experiment7 in either of the specimens4 ,an examination for volatile fatty acids1 gave negative results for number one1 and a very slight trace in number two of volatile fatty acids1 acetic and butyric1 and one or two minute floating oil drops1 most probably from the alcohol employed4 ,the fats thus obtained1 were very dark in colour1 and when cooled1 after being melted in a capsule on water1 solidified with a smooth1 waxy surface1 with the fibres of crystallization vertical4 ,at the point of crystallization1 the expansion pushed up1 and broke the soft cake of fat in the centre4 ,no4 #a weighed #bcg and ,no4 #b1 #fdd grammes4 ,no4 #a1 7the melting point of which was #eg4e1 the solidifying point #eb7 was melted with an equal weight of alcohol1 and on cooling1 filtered and pressed2 a very dark liquid ran through1 a drop of which1 evaporated on a glass slide1 gave dendritic1 stellate1 polarizable crystals4 ,to the residue weighing #agg grammes1 #ajj grammes of alcohol were added1 and the fat which separated1 together with some depositing from the last filtrate by standing1 were added to the fat of the previous operation2 the fat which separated from this solution of #agg grammes1 melted at #ei-fj1 and solidified at #ec-ed4 ,the dark-coloured alcoholic liquid1 filtered from these fats1 was saponified by an alcoholic solution of potassa2 the alcohol expelled by boiling with water1 and after transferring to a retort1 was boiled with sulphuric acid4 ,the distilled water1 examined for volatile fatty acids1 gave negative results4 ,the fat was very dark in colour1 melted at #ee1 and solidified at #ej1 though it was difficult to determine these points exactly1 as the change exhibited itself very gradually4 ,a portion of this fat was converted into a potassa salt1 and precipitated by chloride of barium2 the filtrate from which1 treated with hydrochloric acid1 gave a small quantity of a yellow fat1 not further examined4 ,the baryta salts were treated by ether1 and the residue by boiling alcohol4 ,the ethereal1 alcoholic solutions1 and the residue1 were severally decomposed by hydrochloric acid4 ,the ethereal solution gave a small quantity of oleic acid1 in very dark drops4 ,the alcoholic solution fat was also small in quantity1 and dark4 ,it fused at #fa-fb1 and solidified1 as well as could be judged1 at #de4 ,the residual fat1 which was the largest in quantity1 yellow1 and of a waxy surface1 melted at #dc-df1 and solidified at #de-dj4 ,the purification of fat ,no4 #b1 was now undertaken1 and experimented upon more particularly than ,no4 #a1 since this specimen of adipocire conformed to the shape of part of the human frame4 #ao4 ,an equal weight of alcohol was added1 and the fat1 which weighed #fdd grammes1 was dissolved by heat2 on cooling it was pressed1 and as the filtrate deposited more fat on standing1 it was pressed again1 and the fat added to the former4 ,the dark-coloured filtrate was bottled1 and the fat melted4 ,it was of smooth and waxy surface1 and weighed #eaa grammes4 #bo4 ,the fat from #ao was melted with #agj alcohol1 and the same operation performed4 ,residue weighed #cbg grammes4 #co4 ,added #abd alcohol to this fat4 ,in this all the liquor was absorbed by the pressing cloths2 the fat weighed #cce grammes4 #do4 ,added an equal weight of alcohol and melted2 pressed after two days4 ,the liquid by this time1 was light yellowish2 the fatty crystals in white flakes or scales2 the smaller ones transparent under the microscope1 and polarizable4 ,a portion of the fat was melted1 and observed cooling under the microscope with polarized light2 as the solidification approached1 a beautiful play of prismatic colours took place1 and the drop shot into crystal interlaced lamell4 ,a drop melted with alcohol1 and let cool1 gave the peculiar dendritic curved appearance of margaric acid4 #eo4 ,the fat by this time weighed #cjj grammes2 it was melted with an equal weight of alcohol1 and pressed the following day4 ,residue1 #bec grammes4 #fo4 ,this was melted with #bej alcohol2 the liquid from the press was very little less coloured than the last2 the residue weighed #bbg grammes1 and was brilliant white1 with a tinge of yellow2 the fracture showed large crystals1 and could not be distinguished from the product of the stearic candle factories4 ,when melted1 it cooled with raised1 uneven surface1 and was completely soluble in ether4 ,when the ethereal solution was suffered to separate spontaneously1 the first fat which made its appearance melted at #fj1 solidified at #ee1 and the fat extracted from the rest of the ether gave exactly the same points4 ,the following are the melting points yielded by the fatty residues of the foregoing alcoholic crystallizations3 ,fat melts solidifies #bo #eh #ec #co #eh #ec a #eb #do #eh #ec a #eb #eo #eh a #eh4e #ec #fo #fj #ee a #ed ,the examination of the liquids separated from the above crystallizations1 was now taken up4 ,their colour was from a very deep reddish brown 7,no4 #ao7 down to light yellow1 and nearly colourless 7,no4 #fo47 ,in #ao1 #bo1 and #eo1 crystals had deposited by standing1 and as #bo was not corked like the rest1 the deposit here was abundant2 it was re-melted with addition of as much alcohol as had evaporated1 and was suffered to stand for several days longer1 when a drusy crystalline deposit made its appearance4 ,the following are the melting points for these two precipitates3 ,precipitate in #ao melts #fb-fc solidifies #dde-dj ,precipitate in #eo melts #ea-ef solidifies #dde-dc ,the fat deposited in #bo melted at #eh1 and solidified at #eb1 and the fat separated from the liquid of this bottle1 melted at #eie1 solidified at #ec1 but continued translucent down to #cc4 ,after the above melting points1 #ao and #eo were observed1 the same fat was raised slowly to the melting points1 and then kept for a considerable time in the thermostat1 at #ajj1 the points were again determined1 and found to be the same4 ,the liquids separated from the fats #ao-#fo1 gave the following results3 ,the fat from ,liquid melts solidifies #ao #cf-df #da-8 #bo #ci-da #cg-ce4e #do#f #ei-fb #dj4e-ce #eo #fb-ff #eh-ec #fo #ec-ef #da-8 ,the melting point of liquid #bo1 does not accord with that above stated1 but ,i note the experiments as they were observed1 merely mentioning that ,i observed carefully1 and am not conscious of having made an error4 ,the above points seem vague1 but it was impossible to fix a point definitely1 as a cloudiness persisted up to the highest degree stated1 so ,i prefer to give the limits of certainty4 ,in #ao and #fo the solidifying points1 #da1 were taken when the liquid in the capillary tubes seemed to become solid1 but it remained translucent for a long time below this point1 and #fo only became opaque 7and that gradually7 when suffered to stand in the air4 ,we are reminded here of ,duffy's observations upon certain isomeric transformations of the fats1 7,quar4 ,jour4 ,ch4 ,sec4 ,v4 #aig47 ,he noticed that stearine heated #a above its point of solidification1 became transparent1 but soon after resumed its opacity2 and ,heintz made a similar observation4 ,duffy attributes this to an isomeric transformation of the fat by the heat2 but it seems to me simpler until an isomerism be more distinctly proven1 to assume a mixture of fats1 which unite to form a definite compound under the circumstances1 and which has the above mentioned property4#g ,heintz's researches on the fats should make us look with suspicion upon fats as pure1 that are only purified by crystallization4 ,duffy's remarks were made upon the glycerine compounds of the fatty acids2 it appears from the above examination of the liquids #ao and #fo1 as if something similar took place with the fatty acids themselves1 although1 with one or two exceptions1 in other determinations of melting points noted in this article1 ,i have not observed the same phenomenon of transparency4 ,a few experiments were now made with the alcoholic liquid #fo4 ,a concentrated alcoholic solution of acetate of magnesia added to this liquid1 produced no precipitate1 but micaceous crystalline scales fell on adding acetic acid1 and upon adding more acetic acid1 and heating1 besides these crystals1 an oil floated on the surface1 which solidified on cooling1 and which behaved like a fat1 and gave the melting point of palmitic acid1 viz43 #fb 7solidifies gradually from #dg to #ci47 ,the crystals gave a small quantity of ash when burned on platina foil1 and on being decomposed by hydrochloric acid1 gave a fat with the melting point of stearic acid #gb-gc1 and solidifying at #fj-ee4 ,the mother liquid contained too little fat to experiment upon4 ,to another portion of the liquid #fo1 alcoholic acetate of magnesia was added without addition of acetic acid1 and the solution evaporated in a retort4 ,the first crystals which appeared contained a fat which fused at #fe-fh4e1 and solidified at #fb-eh4 ,the solid crystalline fat ,no4 #f which was removed from the liquid #fo1 and which was the most highly purified result from the crystallization of this specimen of adipocire1 was now examined more particularly2 an alcoholic solution was made upon which to try the different experiments4 ,fifteen grammes of the fat required #cjj of alcohol of #ic per cent4 to keep it in solution2 but before having added so much alcohol1 on standing for a short time #j4fef grammes of pearly crystalline scales fell1 which had a melting point of #fb4e1 and solidified at #ee4e4 ,the fat of the liquid after these crystals had fallen1 when precipitated by water1 melted at #eh-fa1 and solidified at #ee4e3 these crystals1 recrystallized from alcohol1 melted at #fb4e1 and solidified at #eh-eg2 these were dissolved a third time1 in twenty times their weight of #ic per cent4 alcohol1 which deposited1 on standing1 less than a milligramme of tufted crystals of the form of palmitic acid1 of which it had the melting point #fb3 more alcohol was added to the solution1 and it was divided by fractional precipitation with acetate of magnesia and the addition of a little ammonia with heat1 into two portions1 weighing #j4bef and #j4afd grammes1 and they had the same melting point4 ,this fat appears1 therefore1 to be palmitic acid1 one of the acids into which ,heintz divided margaric acid4 ,the crystals deposited from alcohol do not at all resemble those of margaric acid1 but under the microscope are lamellar4 ,these two fats were converted respectively1 by an excess of nitrate of silver1 into silver salts1 #jbdgbe gave #jjgd ,ag4 #biic per cent4 and #jadbge gave #jjdage ,ag4 #bibe per cent41 which corresponds to the percentage of silver in the palmitate of this base4 ,c#cb #aib4jj ,by calculation4 ,mean of two ,exper4 ,h#ca #ca4jj ,o#d #cb4jj ,ag4 #ajg4ig #bi4g #bi4e ------------ #cfb4ig ,there is no doubt1 therefore1 of the presence of palmitic acid in the fat of human adipocire4 ,the second crop of crystals which fell from the mother liquid of those just examined1 contained a fat melting at #fb1 in all probability palmitic acid also4 ,a determination of the silver of the salt of this fat was lost in the following curious manner3 ,the silver salt was in lumps1 as it had dried on the filter1 and after it had stood for a short time at #ajj in a watch glass1 thinking to facilitate the escape of water1 by pulverizing it in an agate-mortar1 it became so exceedingly electric1 that of the whole quantity of silver salt from #j4fea grammes of fat1 ,i was not able to collect the smallest portion for analysis2 whether the powder was attempted to be removed by steel1 platinum1 glass1 a feather1 or paper1 on the first touch it flew into the air1 and alighted upon the table3 ,i have often noticed this behaviour in organic silver salts1 and perhaps it would be worth while to try whether one of them could not favourably replace the amalgam on the cushion of the electrical machine4 ,the following experiments were made upon the alcoholic solution of the fats1 from which the above portions of palmitic acid were separated4 ,enough alcohol was added to this solution to prevent any further deposit by standing1 for which1 as was before stated1 #cjj alcohol were required for #ae fat4 ,its percentage of fat was determined by evaporating the alcohol from a known quantity1 and weighing the residue2 the melting point of this fat was #fj4e to #fa4 ,this melting point was again determined after saponification1 to ascertain whether a fatty ether might not have been formed1 and was found to be the same4 ,the alcoholic solution of acetate of magnesia was also titled so that the necessary quantity might be added to the fat solution by measurement3 the fat under consideration should be1 by ,heintz's experiment1 a mixture of stearic and the so called margaric acids1 together with impurities4 ,before proceeding to the fractional precipitation by acetate of magnesia1 the alcoholic fatty solution was treated with an excess of acetate of magnesia1 and an excess of acetic acid 7aided by a little warmth7 added2 the resulting liquid was then evaporated over sulphuric acid 7removing the crystals as they formed7 in order to ascertain what effect this treatment would have upon the melting points4 ,on cooling1 a small quantity of a powdery precipitate fell1 and after standing for a couple of hours over sulphuric acid1 the liquid crystallized rather suddenly1 to plates or scales1 the melting point of which1 after treatment with acid1 gave #fb2 recrystallized from hot alcohol it melted at #fbe-fc4 ,transcribers note3 ,missing text4precipitate the whole1 was added2 to the filtrate an excess of the magnesia solution was added1 and the fat remaining in the filtrate from this precipitation was separated1 as was also that of the other two precipitates4 ,the following results and melting points are in their order as determined3 7a7 #jcea melts #fa 7b7 #jebg melts #fa 7c7 #jjhe melts #ec loss #jagc ---------- #a4acf grammes4 7a7 and 7b7 were united1 dissolved in alcohol1 enough alcoholic solution of acetate of magnesia to precipitate the half added1 and after standing for a couple of days1 the precipitate was filtered off1 and ammonia added to alkaline reaction to the filtrate4 ,the first magnesia salt was translucent1 and fused by heat to a transparent liquid1 which by more heat gradually grew darker1 finally black1 and left a residue of magnesia4 ,the melting point of the fat of this substance was as before1 #fa4 ,the second magnesia salt was white and amorphous2 it presented the same relations to heat as the first1 and contained a fat of the same melting point1 #fa4 ,these fats were both brilliant white1 lamellar1 and of rough surface4 ,the first magnesia salt contained a per centage of #gei ,mg,o 7#jbejbe gave #jjai7 and the second contained about double the per centage of magnesia1 viz43 #adia2 for #jbh salt gave #jjdage magnesia by incineration4 ,neutral palmitate of magnesia ,c#cb1 ,h#ca1 ,o#c ,mg,o gives by calculation #gf per cent4 magnesia1 and basic palmitate ,c#cb1 ,h#ca1 ,o#c #b ,mg,o gives #adae magnesia1 which approaches the nearest to the magnesia salt of the above fatty acids4 ,the experiments of fractional precipitation of the normal solution of fat #f1 were conducted in the same manner1 and with the following results1 in which 7c7 and 7d7 represent the fatty acids of the two magnesia salts1 and 7e7 that of the portion not precipitated by an excess of acetate of magnesia3 7c7 #jdgd melt pt4 #ei4e 7d7 #jddj melt pt4 #fa4e 7e7 #jcef melt pt4 #eh4e loss during the ex4 #jjaj ---------- #abhj grammes of fat4 ,the magnesia salts from which the fats 7c7 and 7d7 were separated1 gave as follows3--7c7 #jbbg gave #jjafge #gch per cent4 magnesia2 and 7d7 #jagce gave #jjab #fib magnesia4 ,on comparing the melting points of these fats1 and making allowance for want of a more perfect separation from impurities1 there can be little doubt that they are neutral palmitates of magnesia1 as was before ascertained4 ,according to ,heintz 7,zoochemie1 p4 #ajgb17 stearic acid is ,c#cf1 ,h#cf1 ,o#d1 and the magnesia salt contains by calculation1 #fi per cent4 of that base4 ,the foregoing experiments upon the two specimens of human adipocire were intended preliminary to a more thorough research into their nature1 by ,heintz's method2 but this process requires such a large quantity of substance in order to effect the separation of small quantities of whatever new acid might be present1 and the amount of material dwindled so in the many necessary crystallizations from alcohol to separate the dark-coloured impurities1 and especially1 since the determinations and reactions already made1 were so confirmatory of what has lately been done in working upon the solid fatty acids1 ,i preferred placing aside the substances thus obtained for a future examination1 when the separation of fatty acids shall have become more simplified1 as it must be before long4 7c7 ,fossil adipocire of ,bison ,americanus obtained from a metacarpal bone from ,big ,bone ,lick1 by ,dr4 ,leidy4--,it was a white powder1 and in pulverizable lumps2 amorphous under the microscope2 with a talcose feel1 and of density a little below #jhcfe1 since it barely swims upon alcohol of that strength1 while it sinks in absolute alcohol4 ,water will not wet it2 with the addition of hydrochloric acid and heat1 it is separated without effervescence1 into a mineral solution1 and into an oil which solidifies on cooling to a nearly white fat1 a small portion of which melted on a glass slide solidifies to a confusedly crystalline mass2 a small quantity treated in the same way with absolute alcohol1 crystallizes in plumose and dendritic crystals1 like margaric acid4 ,a portion of the adipocire boiled with absolute alcohol1 yields but a minute quantity to the solvent1 and that not of a fatty nature1 showing that the fatty acid is wholly saponified with an earthy base4 ,the whole quantity of adipocire weighed #jihf grammes4 #jafcbe heated in a platinum crucible1 fuses1 burning with a smoky flame and with the smell of fatty acid1 but no acroleine1 leaving #jjafe or #aja per cent4 of a perfectly white ash1 which hydrochloric acid almost perfectly dissolves without effervescence1 and which consists almost entirely of lime1 with a few minute specks of oxide of iron 7seen during the action of the hydrochloric acid17 and a couple of small grains of sand3 there is a very small trace of phosphoric acid present4 ,the greater portion of the adipocire1 #jgaf grammes1 was decomposed by hydrochloric acid and water1 by the aid of heat3 the decomposition took place with a strong smell of rancid tallow1 and the fundamental smell observed in all adipocire was emitted4 ,it was melted and washed several times1 at first with acidulated and finally with pure water4 ,the water from the washing1 when evaporated1 gave a certain quantity of brownish yellow colouring matter4 ,the fat was melted in the capsule in which the precipitation took place1 and weighed #jfah or #hfca per cent4 of the adipocire2 when melted1 a dark flocculent humus-like precipitate was seen2 the fat itself was yellowish1 and of a flat1 waxy 7here and there warty7 surface4 ,it melted at #ea4 ,the adipocire therefore appears to be a lime soap of one of the fatty acids1 with a trace of phosphate of lime and with flocculent organic matter1 or in per centage approximately1 ,fatty acids and a little colouring matter1 #hfca ,lime and a trace of phosphate1 #ajaj ,flocculent organic matter1 #cei ------------ #ajj4jj ,if the organic matter be neglected and the per centage then calculated1 we will have1 ,fatty acids1 #hie ,lime1 #aje ---------- #ajjj ,now ,stearate1 ,margarate and ,palmitate of ,lime1 respectively contain a per centage of #ic-ig----ajb1 of lime1 so it is reasonable to suppose 7as there is nothing in its reaction contrary1 but everything favourable to this supposition7 that the fossil adipocire is a neutral lime soap of the usual fatty acids of tallow4 ,experiments upon the decomposition of muscular fibre 7bullock's heart7 with water1 with a view to the formation of adipocire4 ,a portion of raw1 and one of boiled muscular fibre from bullock's heart1 were on ,march #hth1 #ahed1 placed with water upon a microscope slide1 and covered with thin glass1 which was closed with sealing wax around the edge to prevent evaporation4 ,this was repeatedly observed during the year1 and the attention was directed at times to particular fibres the better to watch any change4 ,at the commencement of the experiment1 the cross-markings of the fibre were distinct and the fibre itself was of a delicate rose-colour4 ,i find in my notes of ,april #hth1 and ,may #aath1 that no change presented itself in either the raw or in the boiled fibre1 except that the cross-markings were more distinct4 ,on ,december #fth1 #ahed1 but very little change was noticed1 7the raw fibre was whiter17 the cross-markings in both were more distinct than ever2 by high powers an amorphous precipitate was discovered in the neighbourhood of some of the fibres--about one third of the water had evaporated4 ,a4 ,on ,november #adth1 #ahec1 #ajj grammes of cheese were placed in a loosely stoppered bottle1 and covered with distilled water1 a portion of the same cheese being reserved for comparison3 the water was renewed as it evaporated4 ,ba4 ,on ,november #aith1 #ahec1 one half of a bullock's heart1 weighing #fgc grammes1 was placed1 covered with ,schuylkill water1 in a wide-mouthed stoppered bottle4 ,bb4 ,the remaining half of the heart1 weighing #haf grammes1 was covered with mineral water with lemon syrup4 ,it was intended to use plain mineral water in this experiment1 that is1 ,schuylkill water saturated with carbonic acid1 but the former was sent by a mistake1 which was not discovered until too late4 ,in these cases the fat was partially removed from the heart1 but not to any great extent4 ,c4 ,boiled six eggs1 removed the shells from two1 which weighed then #hh grammes2 ran pin-holes to the centre in two1 which weighed #ig grammes1 and left the shells upon the remaining two1 which weighed #if grammes2 these were together placed in a glass-stoppered bottle1 and covered with water4 ,these different substances did not delay to decompose and give out offensive odours1 and the eggs especially maintained their proverbial character in this respect2 in fact1 on the approach of the cholera season ,i was obliged to place the bottle of eggs on a plate1 cover it with a large inverted beaker glass1 and heap the rim of the beaker with hypochlorite of lime4 ,with regard to the heart1 the contents of the bottle containing mineral water1 as might be expected1 preserved their lively red colour for a longer time than in the case of the bottles containing river water4 ,the appearance of these bottles1 on ,december #acth1 #ahed1 was as follows3-- ,the cheese ,a was converted into a white1 thick1 grumous mass1 lighter than water1 and which when diluted with a little water1 presented the appearance of pus2 under the microscope with moderate power1 angular transparent fragments constituted the principal part1 and among these1 polarized light showed many broken blade-shaped crystals without a play of colours2 a few globules of oil were also seen4 ,the material ,a was removed to a glass-stoppered bottle1 more water added1 and was set aside4 ,a portion of the cheese used in this experiment had been preserved in paper2 it was found hard1 and on the surface oily4 ,it was placed aside in a cork-stoppered bottle4 ,b4 ,the bullock's heart had been so divided1 that each half contained an auricle and ventricle1 which were placed in the bottles1 7a7 with water1 7b7 with carbonic acid water4 ,the appearance of the contents of these bottles at present is similar1 though 7a7 seems to be more disintegrated4 ,in both of these1 the cavities and valves of the heart maintain1 in a measure1 their form1 and the chord tendine are in perfect preservation3 the serous covering of the heart is consistent2 and in 7b7 it is1 in parts1 quite black from sulphuret of iron4 ,the fluid in both bottles reacts strongly alkaline2 when the mass of the heart is cut open1 the muscular fibre appears of a dirty1 yellowish-red colour1 and when examined under the microscope1 shows the fibre1 but without any of the cross-markings in 7b74 ,in 7a71 which was more disintegrated1 by the addition of water and a power of #gjj diameters1 the fibre could be seen broken in small portions1 and giving evident traces of both longitudinal and cross-breaking up of the sarcous substance4 ,the fibres of 7a71 treated with hot and cold alcohol evinced no change2 with hot acetic acid they shrunk in dimensions4 ,the weight of 7a7 dripping with liquid was #ccj grammes1 that of 7b7 #bge grammes4 ,c4 ,the ,eggs4--,the water was strongly alkaline2 the shelled eggs were seen in broken1 yellowish-white lumps1 and a thick deposit at the bottom of the bottle1 gave no evidence of crystallization under the microscope with polarized light4 ,the liquid from the eggs and from the two heart experiments emitted rather a disagreeable odour1 which was mingled with an aldehyde smell4 ,as decomposition had not advanced to its full extent in these bottles1 ,i preferred setting them aside for a future research1 when both the solid and the liquid contents will be examined4 ,braconnot's#h analysis of bullock's heart is as follows3-- ,water1 #ggjc ,fibrine1 cellular tissue1 nerves1 vessels1 #agah ,albumen and colouring matter of the blood1 #bgj ,alcoholic extract and salts1 #aid ,aqueous extract and salts1 #aae ------------ #ajjjj ,,artificial ,,formation ,,of ,,adipocire4 ,on ,december #hth1 #ahec1 a bullock's heart weighing #abdj grammes1 without removing its fat1 was buried in sand in an inverted tubulated receiver held in a retort stand1 and so placed against the glass that a portion of it could be seen3 a reservoir of water was placed above the receiver1 and this water was suffered to fall1 drop by drop1 upon the sand by means of a syphon of lamp-wick4 ,the water was removed when necessary1 and the changes appearing in the heart observed4 ,these changes were the same as in the case of the bottled experiments2 it began soon to deepen in colour1 and on ,may #aath1 #ahed1 was quite dark1 while the liquid falling from the receiver contained a black amorphous precipitate1 which is probably1 from ,liebig's observation of a similar case1 sulphuret of iron4 ,a deep zone of green vegetable parasitic matter was visible around the inside of the receiver1 commencing within half of an inch above the position of the heart where it was deepest in colour1 and thence diminishing as it approached the surface of the sand4 ,on ,june #gth1 the heart was removed and dissected for the purpose of viewing the extent of the decomposition3 it maintained its original form1 but was larger2 the separation of the chambers was apparent2 the valves present and the chord tendine in a perfect state2 the greater part of the fleshy walls of the heart was pinkish1 soft1 of the consistence of lard1 of putrid smell1 and under the microscope 7#gjj ,d17 presented an amorphous mass1 mingled with fragments of crossed muscular fibre4 ,it was not in as advanced a stage of decomposition as the bottled hearts of ,december #acth1 #ahed4 ,the fat which was purposely left around the coronary vessels1 was hard1 white1 and of an appearance approaching that of adipocire4 ,the heart was returned to the vessel and the experiment continued4 ,on my return to the city1 after an absence in the summer time1 ,i found that the water reservoir and lamp wick had fulfilled their duty1 for the sand was still moist4 ,on ,december #ith1 #ahed1 the experiment was concluded1 and the heart removed from the sand and washed4 ,it was in two pieces1 and weighed1 when still wet1 #bai grammes3 after drying in the air for five days it weighed #ajg grammes1 or #hf per cent4 of the original weight1 and was still moist4 ,this was principally the fat from around the coronary vessels1 the impressions of which were on it2 the tendinous chords of the valves were perfect1 and the valves themselves were indicated4 ,the smell was decidedly tallowish1 with the strong smell ,i have described as adipocire smell1 and with the smell of earth worms2 all of these odours were plain1 and suggested themselves at once to the mind4 ,the fat was hard1 and resembled exactly adipocire2 it presented a different appearance in two different places3 one portion was hard and compact1 in some parts denser1 in others lighter than water1 and appeared granular under the microscope1 like the specimens of adipocire already described3 the other portion was of a more buttery nature1 and of about the density #jhcfe4 ,neither of these specimens gave any traces of fat globules with the microscope1 but contained aggregations of white angular fatty matter1 of nearly the same size1 and about one fourth the diameter of fat globules4 ,with ether the fat disappeared1 and left shrunken membranous matter1 which after the evaporation of the ether and treatment with acetic acid1 became1 for the most part1 transparent4 ,a comparative experiment with beef fat gave similar results1 and ,i am inclined to think that the most of this matter proceeds from the fat cells1#i and their accompanying cellular tissue4 ,on cutting through the thickest portion of this adipocire1 the fat was of a pure white colour1 and could not be distinguished from adipocire2 in some portions it was nearly an inch in thickness1 and at first sight certainly gave the impression that the fleshy walls of the heart were converted into fat2 but on closer inspection1 this seemed to me improbable4 ,the lumps of adipocire were thickest at the top of the heart1 and just where were the lumps of fat in which the coronary vessels were imbedded2 moreover1 it was the most like adipocire in the centre of those very portions of fat4 ,i obtained the approximate density of the adipocire of this part1 by diluting alcohol with water1 until the adipocire just swam half way between the surface and the bottom of the liquid1 and found it to be #jhijb1 which is by experiment lower than that of ox fat4 ,indeed1 as would a priori seem probable1 the fat1 by the gases evolved during the putrefaction of the proteine bodies1 is rendered more porous1 and of a lower specific gravity1 which deceives the eye1 and makes the mass of fat to appear greater than it really is4 ,an ash determination of this part of the adipocire performed upon #adga grammes1 yielded #jjjae1 equal to #jajb per cent4 of a reddish ash1 containing iron4 ,no acroleine was observed during this experiment1 and no other than the characteristic adipocire smell1 which proves the absence of glycerine1 and that the fatty acids are uncombined4 ,ox fat 7#bjfi7 gave 7#jjja1 or7 a per centage of #jjdh white ash4 ,the iron of the former proceeds probably from the hmatine in the heart4 ,these ashes are too small in quantity1 to arrive at any satisfactory result in ascertaining the nature of their component parts2 they appeared by a few tests to contain principally lime1 and soda and potash were detected by ,smith's test4 ,the melting point of the above portion of adipocire was about #dg1 but at #eb the fat still contained a faint precipitate4 ,the adipocire1 on ,february #c;d1 #ahee1 until which time it had been kept in a loosely stoppered bottle1 weighed #ig grammes1 which is #gh per cent4 of the original heart4 ,from #ia grammes the fat was separated by boiling it with #cag alcohol1 filtering hot1 pressing powerfully1 and weighing the residue2 the latter was bulky1 and weighed #dja1 corresponding to #dd per cent4 of the adipocire1 which contains1 consequently1 only #ff per cent4 of fat4 ,if the per centage of fat be calculated from the original weight of the heart1 it amounts to only #dd1 which is undoubtedly less than was originally in the heart1 so that1 so far from there being a gain of fat in the formation of the adipocire1 there was actually a loss1 which accords with the bottle experiments4 ,the alcoholic solution deposited #afb grammes of a rather dark fat1 which was recrystallized from #cfh grammes of alcohol1 and yielded #aa grammes of a lighter fat4 ,i was desirous of retaining a greater portion of this fat for future experiments1 and without proceeding to purify it further1 obtained its equivalent4 ,it melted between #fi-gj1 did not crystallize plainly from alcohol1 with which it behaved like stearic acid3 a neutral silver salt1 deepened in colour considerably when dried at #ajj1 and gave only #bjei and #bjfh per cent4 of silver4 ,as decomposition had evidently taken place in this salt1 the baryta compound was prepared by adding acetate of baryta to the alcoholic solution4 ,the baryta was determined both as carbonate and by converting into sulphate2 there was no difference in the two results2 the baryta of the carbonate was #jagja1 and that of the sulphate was #jagjj1 which corresponds to a per centage of #aife--stearic acid 7,heintz7 requires #bagf per cent41 and palmitic acid #bcfb per cent4 of baryta for the neutral salts4 ,i have no doubt that a further purification will show this to be stearic acid1 as might be expected from the original fat of the heart4 ,i am not desirous of claiming for these experiments a greater importance than they deserve1 nor any but that the experiments were carefully performed3 they were extended over the greater part of a year1 during which my attention has been particularly directed to this subject4 ,when the investigation was commenced1 ,i was inclined to the belief that adipocire was a result of the decomposition of the blood-forming substances1 and this1 principally1 from the experiments of ,blondeau 7see first part of this article7 which ,i have not seen refuted1 and partly from the testimony of those who have had opportunities of observing the formation of adipocire1 and who have stated that fleshy parts of the body are wholly converted into it4 ,the formation of the lower terms of the series of fatty acids from proteine bodies forbids maintaining that this is impossible2 but from what ,i have seen1 and on weighing the evidence of what ,i have read1 my impression is1 that adipocire proceeds from the original fat of the body4 ,it appears to follow from the foregoing experiments1 that the higher members of the series of fatty acids do not result from the putrefaction of proteine compounds2 at least from such putrefaction as is accompanied by exclusion of air4 ,flesh fibrine with restriction of air does not putrefy as rapidly as would be supposed1 according to the experiment1 where a portion was sealed with water on a microscope slide2 the air here was not absolutely excluded1 since a partial evaporation of the water took place4 ,it is true that the amount of water in this experiment was small1 in proportion to the fibrine1 and it appears that much water is necessary to such decomposition1 and which supports ,liebig's theory of the motion of the molecules4 ,in the experiments of the bottles and of the sand1 the decomposition was seen to take place gradually2 the sarcous element of the flesh fibrine separated into discs1 and these were by degrees resolved into their simpler compounds1 which either remained as liquids or gases in solution in the bottles1 or were carried off by the droppings in the sand experiment4 ,the original fat of the body1 according to circumstances1 either partakes of this decomposition1 or else1 losing its glycerine and most of its oleic acid1 becomes gradually converted into adipocire4 ,in some bodies in the grave yards the fat is totally gone1 while in others large quantities of adipocire are formed4 ,it is suggestive that in all cases where adipocire has been found1 the corpse was of a large and fat person1 and this abundance of fat resists an ultimate decomposition4 ,analyses by ,beetz of candles which had remained for a hundred years in a mine1 prove that the only alteration undergone by fats when alone1 is destruction of their oleine and glycerine4 ,in the bottles of my experiments no adipocire was formed1 although the fat of the coronary vessels was only partially removed2 this may be accounted for on the ground that the fat1 which was small in quantity1 was here kept in close contact with the decomposing fibrine1 and suffered with it decomposition1 whereas in the sand experiment1 this could only take place to a less degree4 ,in grave yards1 if the proportion of flesh to fat be large1 and especially if the ground be of such a nature as to prevent the decomposed matter being carried off1 as by draining1 adipocire cannot be formed1 but the fat undergoes full decomposition4 ,the fact that in adipocire from different animals1 the same substances are found accompanying the original fat of the animal1 as the goat-like or mutton smell in sheep1 and the tallow smell of the fossil adipocire1 is suggestive1 and should shift the burden of experimental proof upon those who maintain the formation of this substance from fibrine4 ,the microscopic experiments militate against the transformation from fibrine4 ,those that believe in this change think to have proof from the shape1 as it were1 of certain muscles transformed into fat2 but fibrine does not require to lose much substance in the shape of ammonia1 c41 for this transformation1 and there would not be1 therefore1 a great disturbance in the shape of the fibres of muscle2 at any rate1 it would be reasonable to expect1 that with the microscope1 traces of an arrangement of the fatty particles into fibres or rows would here and there be seen1 but this is not the case1 and the appearance is that of fat particles of equal size among themselves1 and of a diameter one-fourth that of the original fat globules1 and indeed presenting all the appearances to be expected from a mass of fat undergoing alteration from the decomposition of its oleine and glycerine2 and finally in the experiment where adipocire was artificially formed1 no gain of fat was observed1 but a loss of what was purposely left upon the specimen under examination4 ,i shall delay an examination of the products in my hands1 until the separation of the fatty acids is improved4 ,it would be easy enough with the present methods to isolate the two principal constituents of the fatty acids from the material in hand2 but small quantities of new products would inevitably escape observation4 ,the desiderata in working the fatty acids at present1 are1 ,first1 separation of the oleic acid1 without too much loss of substance4 ,second1 a less circuitous method of separating the fatty acids than by ,heintz's method1 which renders difficult the isolation of small quantities of a different acid1 as shown by his mistake of anthropic acid4 ,it is probable that a crystallization of salts 7especially with a base of a high equivalent7 would effect this purpose1 for in crystallization1 other compounds and impurities are concentrated in the mother liquids1 while in fractional precipitation1 in the present case1 an infinite subdivision seems to take place1 requiring many steps to accomplish a sufficient purification2 and brilliant as ,heintz's results are1 considerable labour was required to arrive at them4 ,heintz's process of partial precipitation was founded upon the method of fractional distillation1 proposed by ,liebig for the separation of the lower members of the series of fatty acids2 in the latter case presence of an alkaline carbonate1 in quantity insufficient to saturate the mixed acids1 alters their volatility1 while in the former1 presence of a salt in insufficient quantity for perfect decomposition changes the relations of solubility of the salt formed1 and it does not necessarily follow that the chemical affinity1 active in both cases1 will afford as expeditious a method in cases of solubility as in those of volatility4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,liebig thinks this probable4 ,ch4 ,briefe4 #b ,the degrees of thermometer in this article are centigrade1 and the weights grammes4 #c ,lehmann1 ,lehrbuch4 #d ,lehrbuch1 ,,iii4 p4 #ahg4 #e ,lehmann4 #f ,the liquid from ,no4 #c was all absorbed by the pressing cloths1 and not collected4 #g ,since the above was written1 ,i have received the ,journal fr ,pract4 ,chemic41 ,heft ,,iii4 ,band ,,lxiii4 in which some late results by ,heintz on this point are communicated4 ,he artificially prepared chemically pure stearine from the acid and glycerine1 by ,berthelot's process1 and found that it had two melting points1 first at #ee1 then solidifying and melting again when the heat reached #ga4f4 #h ,ann4 de ,ch4 de ,ph41 xvii4 p4 #cij4 #i ,see ,kolliker1 ,mic4 ,anat41 ,,ii4 #ast ,part1 page #af4