340 THE SECRETIONS: 



The following table represents the amount of fluid in the tubes. 



1st two minutes . . a drachm. 



2d ,, . .2 drachms. 



3d* 5 drachms. 



4th . .1 drachm. 



5th* . .6 drachms. 



6th* . .2 drachms. 



7th . I a drachm. 



8th . | a drachm. 



9th 3 drachms. 



10th* 6 drachms, 



llth 4 drachms. 



12th . .8 drachms. 



13th* 7 drachms. 



14th* 6 drachms. 



15th* 4 drachms. 



The contents of the tubes were analysed separately, according 

 to Dr. Percy's method, 1 and in those marked with an asterisk 

 the presence of spirit was distinctly recognized. 



In another experiment upon the same individual, in which 

 two ounces of whiskey diluted with three times its volume of 

 waterwere administered, no trace of the spirit could be obtained. 2 



Lehmann has sought in vain for salicin, phloridzin, caffei^ 

 theobromin, asparagin, and amygdalin. 



As the modifications that these substances undergo in the 

 organism are of extreme interest, let us see what are the most 

 probable changes that can take place. We select salicin, by 

 way of illustration, as a substance whose chemistry is pretty 

 well established. 



Is salicin converted in the organism into sugar and saliretin ? 3 

 a change that occurs on digesting salicin in dilute acids: or is it 

 converted into salicylous acid and water? 4 as occurs on treating 

 salicin with bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid. Or, in- 

 stead of salicylous acid, is hydrated benzoic acid (which is 



1 Op. cit. p. 8. 



2 These experiments were originally recorded in my Harveian Prize Essay on the 

 Chemistry of the Urine in Health and Disease ; 1842. 



3 This change is illustrated by the equation 



Salicin. Sugar. Saliretin. 



C 42 ^29 ^22 = C, 2 H, 4 O, 4 + C 30 H, 5 O g . 



Salicin. Oxygen. Salicylous acid. Water. 



Symbolically C 4 , H, 9 22 + = 3C 14 H 6 4 -j- 11 HO. 



