F^CES. 369 



Every specimen examined by Dr. Davy, (some voided just 

 after birth, others taken from the intestines of still-born chil- 

 dren,) was very similar, composed chiefly of mucus-globules and 

 epithelium- scales, and of biliary matter containing, besides the 

 colouring and sapid matter of the bile, a small portion of cho- 

 lesterin, of margarin, and olein, with a little free acid, probably 

 the carbonic, judging from the absence of a precipitate on the 

 addition of nitrate of silver, and from the circumstance that 

 the redness imparted to litmus paper was removed by heat. 



A specimen obtained from a healthy child immediately after 

 birth, contained : 



Water . . . .72-7 



Mucus and epithelium-scales . . 23-6 



Cholesterin and margarin . . 07 



Colouring and sapid matter of bile, and olein . 3-0 



100-0 



A portion of the same meconium was incinerated. It burned, 

 after becoming semifluid, with a bright flame, and left '69 of 

 reddish ash, chiefly peroxide of iron and magnesia, with a trace 

 of phosphate of lime and chloride of sodium : the magnesia 

 seemed to be the predominant ingredient and uncombined.] 



I have likewise analysed the fseces of an infant six days old, 

 nourished on its mother's milk. They were pultaceous, of a 

 yellow colour, had a strong acid odour, and both smelled 

 and tasted like sour milk. When the mass was diluted with 

 water, I could observe through the microscope an extraordinary 

 number of fat-vesicles ; there were no epithelium- cells, but I 

 found an amorphous consistent matter resembling coagulated 

 albumen or casein. The proportion of fat was so large that on 

 evaporation the whole mass became fluid. Ether took up this 

 fat, which appeared to be more solid than butter, but contained 

 no cholesterin, since it was perfectly saponifiable. After 

 the removal of the fat, the faeces did not yield any extractive 

 matter to alcohol, but gave biliverdin to alcohol acidulated with 

 sulphuric acid. On extracting this colouring matter with ether, 

 a considerable quantity of green fat was taken up. 



ii. 24 



