Mr. T. Taylor on a new Species of Biliary Calculus. 1 1 



whole was gently evaporated ; as the liquid became concen- 

 trated, it deposited some white fatty matter and acquired a 

 yellow tinge; a residuum was ultimately left, which had the 

 appearance of a mixture of a fluid and concrete oleaginous 

 substance. On the application of heat it became a yellow 

 oil, which on cooling only partially solidified : it weighed 



It strongly reddened litmus paper; dissolved readily in a 

 cold solution of caustic potass ; and was precipitated in soft 

 flakes on the addition of an acid. 



This substance consisted therefore of oleic acid, mixed with 

 margaric or stearic acid. 



Strong acetic acid diluted with twice its bulk of water was 

 now poured over the calculus, and the action of the acid aided 

 by a gentle heat. The insoluble residue was collected on 

 double filters, washed, and dried. 



The acetic solution with its washings was reduced to a 

 small bulk, and a solution of ammonia added ; after the lapse 

 of several hours no precipitate appearing, the excess of am- 

 monia was nearly neutralized by a solution of oxalic acid : a 

 white precipitate fell, which when washed, dried, and heated 

 to dull redness in a platina crucible, left 2'09 carbonate of 

 lime = 1*17 lime. 



The remaining liquid being evaporated to dryness and the 

 ammoniacal salts expelled, a residuum was left which weighed 

 O'lO: water dissolved a portion of this ; the solution was al- 

 kaline, and when evaporated minute crystals were formed, 

 which slightly effervesced in acetic acid : their solution not 

 precipitating chloride of platina, leaves little doubt of their 

 being carbonate of soda : the small portion which remained 

 undissolved proved to be carbonate of lime. 



The matter left upon the filter after the action of the acetic 

 acid was again digested in boiling alcohol, a considerable 

 portion dissolved, and the remainder had acquired a much 

 deeper colour : it was collected on the same filters, which were 

 repeatedly washed with boiling spirit; when dried and 

 weighed against the outer filter it amounted to 0'86. 



This substance possessed a brownish-yellow colour. It 

 dissolved in solutions of caustic and carbonate of potass, 

 forming solutions having nearly the same colour. 



Muriatic acid rendered it green, and when added to its al- 

 kaline solution threw down green flocks. 



With nitric acid it formed a red solution. 



This substance was therefore identical with the colouring 

 matter of the bile, and which forms the principal constituent 

 of the biliary calculi of oxen. 



The alcoholic solutions were concentrated by careful di- 



