Observations on the effect of madder root on the bones of animals : read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester April 10, 1801.

  • Gibson, B. F. (Benjamin F.), 1938-
Date:
1805
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the effect of madder root on the bones of animals : read before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester April 10, 1801. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    tion with various mordents, as their basis.— the colouring of the bones of a living animal by means of madder, is, in every circum- stance, analogous to the formation of these lakes. The colouring matter of madder, passing unaltered through the digestive organs of the animal, enters the general mass of fluids, and is dissolved in the serum of the blood, to which, indeed, if it be in large proportion, it communicates a sensibly red tinge. But there is always present in the blood, and in a state of solution in the serum, a quantity of the earthy matter of the bones, phosphate of lime, ready to be deposited, as “ the exigencies of the animal may require.— Now the phosphate of lime is an excellent mordent to madder and has a strong affinity to it, and is consequently admirably ftted to afford a base for the colouring matter of it ; “ in such experiments, therefore, they concrete in the state of a bright red lake, xvhence the “ colour of the bones is derived. That this is actually the case, may be shewn by a variety “ of experiments. Thus, if to an infusion of “ madder in distilled water, be added a little of the muriate of lime, no change is per- ceived : but if to this mixture be added a solution of the ])hosphate of soda, imme- diatelv a double elective attraction takes I
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