114 CHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF THE HUMAN BODY. 



with the addition of carbonaceous pigmentary matter. On the other hand, the 

 highly-azotized substances are destined for immediate elimination by the kid- 

 neys ; their presence in the current of the circulation being so hurtful, that 

 even a small amount of accumulation might induce fatal results. 



V. Besides the foregoing substances, there are doubtless others which have 

 not been so carefully studied, and which are passed off by distinct channels. 

 Thus, we have no precise knowledge of those products of disintegration which 

 are thrown off by the skin ; and the proper fecal matter, which is undoubtedly 

 derived from some excretion poured into the alimentary canal, rather than from 

 putrescent changes in the residue of the substances which are passing through 

 it, has not yet been made the subject of accurate examination. 



vi. Where more alimentary matter is introduced into the blood than is re- 

 quired for the genesis of living tissue, this probably undergoes the same decom- 

 posing changes, as do the effete matters that are set free by the disintegration 

 of the organized fabric. The saccharine and oleaginous matters are directly 

 carried off by the combustive process, only that portion being applied to the pro- 

 duction of adipose tissue which may not be required for the maintenance of the 

 temperature of the body ; whilst the albuminous and gelatinous appear to be 

 resolved into the two classes of compounds already indicated, part of which are 

 eliminated by the liver and lungs, the other part chiefly by the kidneys, but 

 also by the skin and (its internal reflexion) the alimentary canal. It may here 

 be mentioned, as an additional evidence of the production of sugar from albumi- 

 nous compounds within the living- body, that it is found in the milk of Carnivo- 

 rous animals, which have been for some time restricted to a diet of animal 

 flesh. 1 r;v 



Our data are at present far too imperfect to allow this series of metamorphoses to be 

 definitely represented by the aid of formulae ; nevertheless, there are certain general rela- 

 tions which have a real existence, and which may be appropriately indicated in this mode. 

 The following are given by Prof. Liebig ("Familiar Letters on Chemistry," p. 439), as 

 examples of the transformations which may occur; it is to be observed, however, that 

 some of the formulae which he employs (op. cit., p. 437) differ from those in com- 

 mon use. 



1 equiv. of Albumen with 10 equivs. of Water, contains the elements of 2 equivs. of 

 Glutin and 1 equiv. of Choleic (tauro-cholic) acid, thus 



C. H. N. 0. S. C. H. N. 0. S. 



1 Albumen == 216 169 27 68 % ] f 164 134 26 64 =2 Glutin. 

 10 Water = 10 10 52 45 1 14 2 = 1 Choleic acid. 



216 179 27 78 2J [216 179 27 78 2 



1 equiv. of Fibrin of Blood with 8 equivs. of Water contains the elements of 1 equiv. of 

 Glutin and 1 equiv. of Albumen. 



C. H. N. < 



1 Fibrin = 298 228 40 92 2] f216 169 27 68 2 = 1 Albumen. 

 8 Water = 8 8 82 67 13 32 =1 Glutin. 



298 236 40 100 2J [298 236 40 100 2 



1 equiv. of Casein with 10 equivs. of Oxygen contains the elements of 1 equiv. of Albu- 

 men and 1 equiv. of Chondrin. 



S. 



1 Casein =288 228 86 90 2] f216 169 27 68 2 = 1 Albumen. 

 10 Oxygen = 10 72 59 9 32 = 1 Chondrin. 



288 228 36 100 2 288 228 36 100 2 



1 This was at one time denied by Dumas ; but the fact has been fully established by the 

 researches of Bensch, who has also explained the reason of Dumas' s failure to detect the 

 presence of sugar. (See ''Ann. der Chem. und Pharm.," band Ixi. p. 221.) 



