INTERMEDIATE METAMORPHOSIS OF MATTER. 449 



the intestine. Of every 100 parts of carbon in the body 4'26 parts 

 are separated by the respiration and urine, while only 1*31 parts 

 pass into the intestine (of which 0*376 passes through the bile) ; 

 and a similar ratio holds good with regard to the hydrogen. Of 

 every 100 parts of nitrogen in the animal body, 3*89 parts are com- 

 pletely separated, and only 1*28 parts pass into the intestine (of 

 which not more than 0*101 passes through the bile). Of every 

 100 parts of sulphur contained in the animal 3*3 parts are daily 

 excreted by the kidneys, while 2*6 parts enter the intestine (1*7 of 

 which passes through the bile.) Of 100 parts of phosphoric acid 

 of the soluble phosphates of the animal body there are daily elimi- 

 nated 7*27 parts, while 2-9 parts complete the circulation through 

 the intestine. 



These are only a few instances of results to which such statis- 

 tico-chemical investigations of the intermediate metamorphosis of 

 matter lead us, when they are conducted with that accuracy and 

 circumspection which are indispensably requisite in such cases. As 

 yet we unfortunately possess no other investigations of this nature 

 than those of Bidder and Schmidt, of which we have made mention. 

 But whatever ingenuity may be discernible in these inquiries, and 

 however brilliant may be the results to which they have already led, 

 it must be admitted that they have merely indicated the path by 

 which more numerous investigations may enable us to reach the 

 aim towards which we are striving. Since we are conscious of the 

 deficiency of our knowledge, and the uncertainty of most of the 

 facts in our possession, we likewise omit a mathematical, or rather 

 arithmetical sketch of all the movements of matter in the living 

 body considered in accordance with all their relations and value. 



As it is our firm conviction, that it is only by the above indicated 

 mathematical determination of the limits of the metamorphosis of 

 matter that the general propositions of our science can be com- 

 pletely established, we are the more ready to leave to future 

 chemists the bold attempt of classifying vital phenomena according 

 to number, mass, and weight, and thus securing to their theories 

 an amount of relative truth which might at all events equal that to 

 which the other empirical sciences have long since attained. 



In drawing towards the close of this work, we cannot forbear 

 reverting once more to that department of our science, known as 

 pathological chemistry ; and the present would seem to be the 

 fitting place for entering more minutely into the consideration of 

 pathological processes ; and this we had fully purposed doing, for 

 our original intention was to investigate the pathological metamor- 



VOL. Hi. 2 G 



