BILE. 411 



6. Colouring matter. 



7. A substance containing much azote, slightly soluble in wa- 

 ter ; insoluble in cold, but soluble in hot alcohol. 



8. Gliadin ? insoluble in water, but soluble in hot alcohol. 



9. Osmazome ? soluble in water and alcohol, precipitated by 

 infusion of nut-galls. 



10. A substance emitting when heated a urinous smelL 



11. Casein. 



12. Mucus. 



13. Bicarbonate of ammonia. 



14 to 20. Margarate, oleate, acetate, cholate, bicarbonate, 

 phosphate, and sulphate of soda, (with some potash). 



21. Common salt. 



22. Phosphate of lime. 



23. Water, amounting to 91*51 per cent.* 



There can be no doubt that the taurin of Gmelin was formed 

 from the biliary matter of Berzelius during the processes to which 

 it was subjected. 



Bile is a liquid of a greenish-yellow colour. Its taste is very 

 bitter, but at the same time sweetish, having some resemblance 

 to the taste of liquorice sugar. Its smell is weak, but peculiar 

 and disagreeable. It does not alter the colour of vegetable blues. 

 Its consistence varies very much ; sometimes it is a thin mucilage, 

 sometimes very viscid and glutinous. Sometimes it is transpa- 

 rent, and sometimes it contains a yellow matter, which precipi- 

 tates when the bile is diluted with water. 



Its specific gravity varies, as is the case with all animal fluids. 

 According to Hartmann it is 1 *027 ;t according to Thenard 1 -026 

 at the temperature of 43. Berzelius states the mean specific 

 gravity at 1*0254 When strongly agitated it lathers like soap. 

 It mixes with water in any proportion, and assumes a yellow co- 

 lour. But it refuses to unite with oil. Yet it dissolves soap rea- 

 dily, and is often employed to free cloth from greasy spots. 

 When distilled to dryness, it becomes at first slightly muddy ; 

 then it froths violently, and a colourless liquor passes into the 

 receiver, having a smell similar to that of bile, and slightly pre- 

 cipitated by diacetate of lead. The residue in the retort when 



* Recherches, &c. i. 42. f HaUer's Physiol. vi. 546. 



| Djurkemie, ii. 45. 



