EFFECTS OF SALTS ON THE ORGANISM. 375 



that any compounds thus formed must have been 

 again decomposed by the vital processes. 



Neutral citrates, acetates, and tartrates of the 

 alkalies, suffer change in their passage through the 

 organism. Their bases can indeed be detected in 

 the urine, but the acids have entirely disappeared, 

 and are replaced by carbonic acid which has united 

 with the bases. (Gilbert Blane and Wohler.) 



The conversion of these salts of organic acids 

 into carbonates, indicates that a considerable quan- 

 tity of oxygen must have united with their elements. 

 In order to convert 1 equivalent of acetate of potash 

 into the carbonate of the same base, 8 equivalents 

 of oxygen must combine with it, of which either 2 

 or 4 equivalents (according as an acid or neutral 

 salt is produced) remain in combination with the 

 alkali ; whilst the remaining 6 or 4 equivalents are 

 disengaged as free carbonic acid. There is no evi- 

 dence presented by the organism itself, to which 

 these salts have been administered, that any of its 

 proper constituents have yielded so great a quantity 

 of oxygen as is necessary for their conversion into 

 carbonates. Their oxidation can, therefore, only be 

 ascribed to the oxygen of the air. 



During the passage of these salts through the 

 lungs, their acids take part in the peculiar process 

 of eremacausis which proceeds in that organ; a cer- 

 tain quantity of the oxygen gas inspired unites with 

 their constituents, and converts their hydrogen into 

 water, and their carbon into carbonic acid. Part of 

 this latter product (1 or 2 equivalents) remains in 

 combination with the alkaline base, forming a salt 

 which suffers no further change by the process of 

 oxidation ; and it is this salt which is separated by 

 the kidneys or liver. 



It is manifest, that the presence of these organic 

 salts in the blood must produce a change in the pro- 

 cess of respiration. A part of the oxygen inspired, 

 which usually combines with the constituents of the 

 blood, must, when they are present, combine with 



