372 THE EXCRETIONS: 



consistent masses, yielded to Berzelius the following results in 

 1000 parts : 



Water ..... 733-0 



Solid constituents .... 267'0 



Bile 9-0 



Albumen 



Peculiar extractive matter 



Salts 



Insoluble residue of food 



9-0 

 27-0 

 12-0 

 70-0 



Substances added in the intestinal canal, as mucus, biliary 

 resin, fat, a peculiar animal matter, &c. . . 140-0 



The salts in this analysis were determined by a separate 

 experiment : three ounces of fresh excrement were repeatedly 

 extracted with water, and the residue obtained by evaporation 

 was incinerated. 



The ash was composed of: 



Carbonate (lactate) of soda . . 3-5 



Chloride of sodium . . . 4-0 



Sulphate of soda . . .2-0 



Phosphate of magnesia . . . 2-0 



Phosphate of lime . . .4-0 



15-5 



We observe that there is a considerable proportion of phos- 

 phate of magnesia, and a much larger of phosphate of lime ; 

 the former constituting 13'3 and the latter 26-6 of the salts. 

 The comparatively large amount of phosphate of magnesia may 

 be partly accounted for by the use of coarse bread, which con- 

 tains a considerable quantity of this salt. 



From dried excrements Berzelius obtained 15Og of fixed 

 salts, of which 10 were earthy phosphates with a trace of 

 sulphate of lime, 0'8 carbonate of soda, an equal quantity 

 of sulphate of soda with sulphate of potash and phosphate 

 of soda, and T6 silica originating from vegetable matters. 

 Nothing is said regarding the chlorides ; they were probably 

 not determined. 



[Enderlin has instituted numerous observations on human 

 faeces, chiefly in reference to the salts. 



A. Fresh excrements of a yellowish-brown colour, a pulpy 

 appearance, and an alkaline reaction, were dried and incinerated. 



