The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-07-30
The 1hemlslry Of Animal Sub-
stances.

knowing something abon, the chemistry
~ his own body. We have condonScl
the following from a chapter ot Profrs.
sors Rrapde Il Taylor's Chemistry
most clear and comprehensive work.
recently published by Blanchard & Lea
Philadelphia
The human body is partly composed
Of mineral substances, which are called
Inorganic and are chiefly found in the
bones 1t is mostly built up however
OF organic substances which are the
product growth, and dependant upon
life fer their development They arc
very peculiar in their character. and
have received the name Of heterogeneous
substances and nitrogenous principles,
because nitrogen is one oftheir principal
elements. Neutral nit, ogenous sub
stances arc found in the vegetable and
animal kingdoms; in the former they
are represent by gluten, albumen, casen
or legumin; and in the latter by fibrin,
alhumen, casein, and gelatin. In add,-
ton to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen,
they all contain nitrogen, and the erea.
ter number contain variable quantities
OF sulphur and phosphorus: bur animal
gelat!ne contains neither Of these two
elements. These heterogeneous principle
are important as articles OF food to ami.
ras, aud are frequently described as
fleshtorm'ng substances, in order 10
distinguish them from the neutral com
pounds Of the three characterization
hydrogen. and oxygen, Of which starch,
gum, and sugar are composed, and
which according to modern theory are
only heat producing. There is no ma
terial difference in the composition Of
these substances, whether they are
direct from the animal Of tn. vegetable
kingdor,. Aibumen is composed of {
5+.a: Il ~: Q 22o: Nl5s. Gluten
& So: lI7.5: Q PA: $50. Flbrin
G $40: II Go: O22e: Nl57. Their,
Is also about one per cent ofsulpier and
phosphorous in the above substances
All OF these when out Of the living BODY
undergo spontaneous changes when ex.
posed 70 moisture in the atmosphere.
IN a state Of transition, offensive effluv.
las are evolved from them, and this
change is called putrcfaction.
PUTRErAcT1oN OF ANIMAL Cossr1-
TuEsTs.--Thc conditions of putrefac
ton should be generally understood.
At very low temperatures animal sub.
stances do not putrcfy, and it is the
same with them at elevated tempera-
lures. An elephant was found in good
state OF preservation in Siberia, among
ice, where i had remained pelhaps for
thousands Of years. In the warm dry
climate Of South America, cattle are
killed in the open air, and in a very
short period the flesh dries, and may
be kept in that state for months without
becoming decomposed. A condition is
essential to putreflction is moisture.
When flesh IS carefully dried by cur.
rent Of warm dry air, it resists decay.
and retains it's nutritive powers. The
various forms Of gelatin and albumen
when desiccated are imperishable, but
III solution Of water, ar in moist
state they are the mos. pershablc Of all
animal proximate principles Air pro
NOTES patrefactive changes, but f1esl.
may be preserved fresh in some gases.
such as the deutoAide of nitrogen for
nonthR. When meat is immersed in
water that has been DO. led all the air
from it. and is then covered with
layer of sweet oil, it may be kept fresh
for long time. In warm weather
therefore meat should be kept in dry
cool place. The mort favorable tenn
pesature for putrefaction ranges from
7o0 to loo Fab.
PRESERVING MEATS AND VEGr-
TsHLRs.-Parially boiled or roasted
meat, free from all faint, and half dre..
Sod vegetables, are introduced into
IT, canister, which is then soldere.l up.
with the exception Of small hole in
The lid. The canister is then placed in
BATH OF boiling salt brine, which il
headed few degrees above the boiling
point Of water, and when il il noticed
that steam issues copiously from the
.Perlnfe, the canister is lifted, and the
hole in the lid instantly filed with a
drop of solder, thus Theoretically seal.
irg the vessel. The success of this
operation is indicated by the end OF
the canister becoming slightly concave
ny the pressure Of the atmosphere upon
il. Meat TINS nreserxed hos Lant frosh