Comparative Analysis of the Urine of various Animals. 1 7 



lysed, presented all the characters of an animal matter. 

 The liquid in a short time putrefied. M. Moscali made 

 ihe same experiment in an hospital, by suspending the 

 glass spheres over several sick persons : it was attended 

 with the same phasnomena and the same results. ' These 

 experiments ought to be repeated and followed up: they 

 misht be varied, multi|)lied, and compared, with a view to 

 elucidate the theory of contatrioii*which takes place without 

 immediate contact. In this way we might also examine 

 the alteration which miasmata undergo, when the nitric or 

 nmriaiic fumigations are resorted to. 



V. Coivparaiii'c Analysis of the Urine of various Animals, 

 By M. VAUauELiN*i 



X HP, only kinds of urine which chemists have hitherto 

 analysed in a salisiactory manner have been those of men, 

 and some of tiie larL^er herbivorous animals. 



The urines of carnivorous and wild animals have not as 

 yet, so far as I know, been examined by any person. 



Nevertheless, if we admit ihat comparative anatomy on 

 the one hand has greatly contributed to the advancement 

 of physiology, we shall perhaps also ascertain that com- 

 parative cluniistry mav, on the other hand, be made con- 

 ducive to this science. 



Already has the urine of birds furnished results suffi- 

 ciently interesting and unexpected to induce chemists to 

 prosecute their txperime:)ts among all classes of animals 

 which furnish this liquid, that they n)ay not in future en- 

 tirely rely on analogy. With tins view I have analysed 

 the urine of the royal tiger, the lion, and the beaver; the 

 results of which I subjoin, intending to extend my experi- 

 iiu'iits to other aiximals. 



Tfie urines of the lion and tiger are perfectly similar: 

 they have also soire resemblance to that of man, but they 

 differ in some es.seiitial points. 



First difference: they are alkaline, even at the in&tant of 

 being voided ; the urine of a man in hetillh is, on the con- 

 trary, always acid. 



It is to ttie presence of the ammonia developed in these 

 urines that we ought lo ascribe the strong and disagreeable 

 smell which tliey diiru!--e, even when in the act of issuing 

 from the bladder of this class of animals. 



* Annnlea tie Chimie, tome lxx;iii. p. 197, 



Vol. 41. No, \77. Jan. 1813. B Second 



