216 
Nodk V. 
Gouty con 
cretions. 
Preperties. 
ANIMAL FLUIDS. 
How far the sinovia of the human body resembles 
that of oxen it is impossible to say. The following fact 
renders it probable, that it either contains different in 
gredients, or is liable to alteration from disease. Con 
cretions often form in the joints of gouty people, and 
make their way through the skin. These, in common 
language, are called chalk stones. Dr Pearson and Mr 
Tennant analysed some of them, and found them com 
posed of urat of soda *. This analysis has been repeated 
by Fourcroy and confirmed †. It is doubtless this fact 
that has induced Fourcroy to conjecture, that uric acid 
forms a constituent part of sinovia t. 
SECT. XV, 
OF SEMEN. 
L'HE peculiar liquid secreted in the testes of males, and 
destined for the impregnation of females, is known by 
The human semen alone has hi 
the name of semen. 
therto been subjected to chemical analysis. Nothing 
is known concerning the seminal fluid of other animals. 
Vauquelin published an analysis of the human semen 
in 1791. 
Semen, when newly ejected, is evidently a mixture 
of two different substances : the one, fluid and milky, 
which is supposed to be secreted by the prostate gland ; 
which he examined. He found, however, traces of some other phos 
phat ; probably phosphat of soda. Pbil. Trans. 1799, p.246. 
1 Ibid. ix. 224. 
+ Fourcroy, x. 267. 
* Jour. de Pbys. xIv. 399.