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and. covered with fresh ox-bile, from which the mucus had been 

 carefully removed ; the bile also was tested with diluted acetic acid, 

 giving no precipitate or appearance of turbidity. The whole was, at 

 1 P.M., placed in a warm situation. At 3 P.M. the solution was tested 

 with acetic acid, when it became densely turbid. Temperature, 

 43*5 C. The peculiar odour of musk was very distinct in this solution, 

 though not perceptible in the remainder of the fresh bile. A small 

 quantity of water was added, to replace that lost by evaporation, and 

 the solution returned to its warm situation. 6 P.M. again tested, 

 with similar results; the musky odour very strong. 7*30 P.M. 

 again tested, when not only was the solution rendered turbid, but a 

 white precipitate was thrown down; the fluid was also distinctly 

 alkaline. 



The mucous lining of the gall-bladder is therefore a catalytic body 

 capable of producing molecular changes in the bile. 



Action of the Mucous Membrane of the Gall-bladder upon certain 

 Bodies which readily break up into Organic Groups. 



Milk. December 18. A portion of mucous membrane was scraped 

 and washed with scrupulous care, in order that the whole of the 

 mucus might be removed ; it was then covered with fresh milk and 

 exposed to a temperature of 32 C. In one hour the fluid was 

 separated into serum, turbid with caseine, and an over-stratum of 

 a creamy substance greatly resembling butter, thus exhibiting a 

 catalytic influence very analogous to the action of rennet. The 

 whole contents of the evaporating dish were then set aside, as 

 having eifected the object of the experiment ; on the 21st, however, 

 the author was induced to taste the fluid, and, to his astonishment, 

 found it intensely bitter, and, what is more remarkable, on applying 

 Pettenkofer's well-known test of sugar and sulphuric acid, with 

 increase of temperature, the characteristic rose-tint was developed. 

 The musky smell was not observable. 



Honey. December 26. A portion of mucous membrane, carefully 

 washed, was covered with a solution of honey (one measure of honey 

 to three of water). After six hours' exposure at 38 C., it was 

 found bitter, and gave a precipitate with diluted acetic acid ; this 

 was not the case with the original solution. The fluid, being slightly 

 acid, was carefully neutralized with carbonate of soda. The taste, 



N 2 



