1819.] Scientific Intelligence. 475 



When exposed to heat, it coagulated. The soluble salts of 

 lead, mercury, and silver, when added to it, caused precipitates. 

 The addition of the mineral acids also caused precipitates. Even 

 dilute acetic acid produced a copious precipitate, but when 

 prussiate of potash was afterwards added, no precipitate took 

 place. Hence the animal matter, though evidently retained in 

 solution by the free alkali present, was not albumen ; but 

 appeared to be the peculiar matter secreted by the salivary 

 glands, perhaps a little altered in its nature. 



One thousand grs. evaporated to diyness at a temperature 

 between 212° and 300°, left 8*65 grs. which were found to 

 consist of 



Animal matter above-mentioned 3*33 



Animal matters soluble in alcohol, and similar 

 apparently to what are usually found in the 



blood 1-06 



Sulphuric acid 0*90 • 



Muriatic acid 0-75 



Phosphoric acid 0*06 



Alkaline matter, consisting partly of soda and 

 partly of potash 2*55 



8-65 



With respect to the relative proportions of the potash to the 

 soda, or how they were distributed among the acids, I did 

 not attempt to ascertain. But it is evident that the acids were 

 not sufficient to neutralize the alkalies present, which accounts 

 for its sensible properties, as detailed above. When the animal 

 matters were burned, they left a minute quantity of the earthy 

 phosphates. 



The urine of this woman was of an amber colour, slightly 

 opaque. Its specific gravity was 1013*1. It contained crystals 

 of uric acid, and reddened litmus paper more strongly than usual. 

 It contained much less urea than natural, but a large proportion 

 of a brown animal substance, which appeared to render it very 

 prone to decomposition, especially when exposed to heat. 



This case occurred to my friend Dr. Elliotson at St. Thomas's 

 hospital. With the view of increasing the flow of urine, diure- 

 tics were given. These produced the desired effect. The urine 

 was rendered more natural and copious; while the salivary 

 discharge was proportionally diminished. 



It is not unlikely that cases of this nature have been mistaken 

 for discharges of urine from the mouth. In the present case, it 

 appears that the woman herself considered that the fluid came 

 from the stomach, and was of an urinous nature. She had 

 laboured under similar attacks before, but they were less severe, 

 and after some time had ceased spontaneously, and her appetite 

 and strength had returned as usual. 



