[N] In this country, powdered arsenic is almost exclusively used by preparors—and is alone sufficient for this purpose—the arsenical soap is not sufficiently strong; no fatal effects have been known to follow its use; care should be taken to wash frequently.—Tr.
[13] Out of ten medical students lodging together, and frequently of the same amphitheatre, nine were attacked by this grave malady in the course of last year, and three of them died.
[14] Up to the present, certain animal substances have been considered chemically identical, which are not so: 1, the proper matter of gelatinous tissues not decomposed; 2, the product which results from their decomposition by the action of heat and water; 3, this same secondary product dried. These three compounds were designated by the denomination of gelatine. As I have proved that there is not between them any identity of character, I have named gelatine the animal matter contained in the gelatinous tissues; I have reserved the name jelly to the product of the decomposition of geline, and I have left the name gelatine to glue, whatever may be its purity.
[O] Entire bodies of both men and horses have been found not unfrequently, preserved for centuries in the English bogs—which preservation has always been referred to the tannin in its fluid portion. These instances probably occurred at a low temperature. I have tried the experiment by immersing small quadrupeds in a saturated solution of powdered nut-galls, during warm weather, but always found it insufficient for preservation from putrefaction.—Tr.
[15] Arsenic is so little soluble, even in warm water, and, above all, in alcohol, that I introduced the liquid saturated, holding in suspension more than one-half of the powder which could not be dissolved.
[P] In the autumn of 1837 I tried this experiment of Tranchini, on the body of a patient who had died the day before with consumption, in the wards of the Philadelphia Hospital. A saturated solution of spirits of wine and arsenic, coloured with carmine, was injected into the carotid artery—the countenance regained its natural fulness and complexion, which state continued for about three weeks, with the exception of some shrinking of the eyes. In about six weeks the corpse began to mould, and the skin of the legs could be scraped off,—the body was then buried.—Tr.
[Q] Nitre possesses no preservative properties.—Tr.
[R] To have given the creosote a fair trial it should have been injected undiluted with water; no one who has tried this curious product will deny that it possesses the most powerful antiseptic properties. I have used it formerly very successfully in my dissecting rooms for purifying subjects dead of mortification, foul ulcerations, or tainted by decomposition, especially the viscera. A small quantity of the creosote passed over the surface of these with a feather, immediately removes the fetid odours.—Tr.
[S] These liquids, which may be employed for the limited preservation of fish destined to dissection, will not answer for their indefinite preservation, but I shall have occasion, in my work on the preservation of pathological anatomy, to indicate another process.
[16] These productions on the surface of dried preparations, not covered with varnish, do not produce, it is true, putrid decomposition, but they change, and tend to destroy them. I have experienced all the inconvenience of this fact in embalming; after numerous trials I have discovered a method of preventing it.