V. Observations on the Nature of the Biliarij Secretion ; — the object being to shew, 

 that the Sile is essentially composed of an Electro-negative body in chemical combi- 

 nation with one or more inorganic bases. Hy George Kemp, M.B. St. Peters 

 College. 



[Read March 6, 1843.] 



The following observations on the nature of the Bile, form a portion of some researches 

 into the elementary composition of that secretion, commenced in the laboratory at Giessen. 

 Professor Liebig suggested the following mode of conducting the inquiry. 



A portion of ox-bile as received from the gall-bladder was to be evaporated to dryness, 

 and then submitted to ultimate analysis, without any farther manipulation. 



This plan was abandoned for the following reasons. 



The gall-bladder of every animal yet examined contains, in addition to the bile, another 

 body, always varying in quantity, and possessing physical properties differing so essentially 

 from the biliary secretion, that I determined in the first place to separate and examine this 

 body, to which the name of Mucus of the gall-bladder has been given. The analysis proved 

 that this body contains 15'4 per cent of nitrogen, while the bile itself contains only 3'5 per 

 cent of that element, so that the results obtained in the manner originally proposed would 

 have been constantly varying, and always erroneous. The fats and fatty acids also, contained 

 in the bile, would have led us still farther astray ; eventually, therefore, I determined on re- 

 moving the mucus and fatty acids before attempting the analysis of the fluid. Previously, 

 however, to entering on the manipulation employed, it will be proper to give a sketch of the 

 principal opinions which have been hitherto entertained on the nature of the bile. 



The first proximate analysis of this fluid, of any importance, seems to have been made by 

 Thenard in the year 1806, with the results contained in the note*. According to his opinion 

 the bile is principally composed of biliary resin and picromel ; the biliary resin he supposed 

 to be held in solution by the picromel. Berzelius in 1807 instituted an analysis of which the 

 table f below gives a summary view. He considered the biliary resin and picromel as one body, 

 altered by the manipulation of Thenard, who made use of nitric acid in his analysis. To 

 this body, composed of biliary resin and picromel, Berzelius applies the name biliary matter. 

 An analysis instituted by Dr. Prout about the same time confirms the analysis of Berzelius in 

 every essential point. At a subsequent period Gmelin undertook the investigation of this 

 secretion ; his results induced him to imagine that the opinion of Thenard with reference to 

 the existence of biliary resin and picromel, was correct, although the substance described as 

 picromel by Gmelin differs very essentially from that body as described by The'nard. He, 



' Water 876-6 



Biliary resin 30-0 



Picromel 75.4 



Vellow colouring matter s-O 



Soda 5.0 



Phosphate of Soda 2'5 



Chloride of Sodium 4.0 



Sulphate of Soda I'O 



Sulphate of Lime 1.5 



A trace of Oxide of Iron. 



1000-0 



t Water 90-44 



Biliary matter with fat 8-00 



Mucus of the gall-bladder 0-30 



Osmazome, Chloride of Sodium, and Lactate of Soda 0-74 



Soda 0-41 



Phosphate of Soda, Phosphate of Lime, and traces 1 



of a substance insoluble in alcohol > 



100-00 



