368 Notice respecting the Meteor of September 25, 1846. 



By comparing the above results with those obtained by 

 Kemp, Theyer and Schlosser, &c., from the analysis of the 

 bile of the ox, the two fluids are seen to exhibit the same 

 composition. 



The nature of the true constitution of the bile is still a mat- 

 ter of doubt; the opinion that it was a compound of an elec- 

 tro-negative substance (bilic acid) with the base soda seemed 

 latterly to have been almost established. If however the ex- 

 periments of Mulder, which have recently been published, 

 should be confirmed, no dependence can be placed upon 

 direct analysis, since from the moment of the secretion of that 

 fluid it begins to undergo decomposition : even on drying at 

 212° F. ammonia is evolved, and the bile ceases to be perfectly 

 soluble in water; and all fresh bile contains ammonia. Should 

 these results be proved correct, the analysis of this fluid must 

 be conducted in a different way from that which has been 

 ordinarily adopted. On dissolving some purified fresh sheep's 

 bile in alcohol, adding a drop of muriatic acid, then a little 

 chloride of platinum, and setting the mixture aside, I obtained 

 a precipitate of the ammonio-chloride, the crystals of which 

 were perfectly distinct under the microscope. This appears 

 to give support to Mulder's statement that ammonia is present 

 in the bile. 



9 St. John's Square, August 1847. 



LX. Notice respecting the Meteor qf September 25, 1846. 

 By the Rev. J. Slatter. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 



Rose Hill, near Oxford, 



Gentlemen, October 2.3, 1847. 



A S I do not generally see your Publication, I was quite 

 ■^^^ unaware of any accurate notice having been put on 

 record of a large meteor which appeared one night in the end 

 of September 1846. During the late meeting of the British 

 Association at Oxford, a conversation arose, from which I 

 learnt that Sir John Lubbock had observed it also, and made 

 a communication to your Magazine respecting it*. 



I saw it myself in lat. 51° 43' 50" N., and long. 1° 13' 45" W. 

 It passed from E. to N.E. at an altitude at first of about 50°, 

 declining somewhat towards the end of its course, but not 

 more to my notion than would be caused by perspective, sup- 

 posing its path to have been on a meridian line, and parallel 

 to a tangent at the earth's surface. The night was very cloudy, 

 but there were many openings between the clouds. The body 

 * In the January Number for this year, p. 4. 



