1835.] Researches on the Blood. 59 



water, and partly unites with the solid organic compounds 

 contained in the blood. From these proceed acetic or lactic 

 acid, which combines with a portion of carbonate of soda 

 contained in the blood, and drives its carbonic acid into 

 the cells. 



4. The acetate of soda loses in its course through the 

 different secreting organs its acetic acid, combines again 

 with carbonic acid after undergoing many decompositions 

 in its passage with the mass of blood through the body, 

 and enters into the lungs on its return as carbonate of soda. 



Is urea contained in the blood after the extirpation of 

 the kidnies ? 



The authors directed their attention to this point, which 

 it is well known has been decided in the affirmative by 

 Prevost and Dumas, {Ann. de Chim. xxiii.) 



On the 14th January 1832, the right kidney of a dog 

 was removed, and in 14 days the wound healed. 



The left kidney was cut out on the 11th February, and 

 on the 13th the animal died. The substances taken from 

 its body which were subjected to examination, were : 1. The 

 liquid vomited ; 2. The blood collected from the great 

 vessels, amounting to 2 ounces ; 3. The bile ; 4. The con- 

 tents of the small intestines. All these substances were 

 dried separately on the water bath, and digested with hot 

 water. The filtered liquid was precipitated by acetate of 

 lead, and the lead removed by carbonate of ammonia. The 

 fluid was evaporated to dryness, and treated with absolute 

 spirits. The residue, after evaporation, was dissolved in a 

 little water, and evaporated with nitric adid in a glass tube. 

 The solution from the blood produced, with a drop of nitric 

 acid, a yellowish, white crystallized precipitate, which was 

 collected on a filter, washed with cold water, and dried. A 

 portion of it heated m a platinum spoon left a trace of car- 

 bon ; another part, heated with potash, disengaged no am- 

 monia. A third portion was heated with water and car- 

 bonate of barytes. The mixture was digested with ab- 

 solute spirits, and filtered This liquid, * which was not 

 precipitated by sulphuric acid, gave by spontaneous eva- 

 poration, long colourless needles, weighing 2 milligrames. 

 They were soluble in water and spirits ; were dissipated by 



