130 RELATION OF BILE TO FIBRINE. 



8 N 6H 39 O 1 

 HO 



Formula of blood 



1 eq. water ....... = HO ) 



1 eq. oxygen ...... = O \ 



The sum is = C 48 N 6 H 40 O 17 



29. If, moreover, we add to the elements of pro- 

 teine those of 3 eq. water, we obtain, with the excep- 

 tion of 1 eq. hydrogen, exactly the same formula. 



Formula of proteine = C 48 N 6 H 36 O 14 



Add 3 eq. of water . . == H 3 O 3 



The sum is C 48 N 6 H 39 O 17 



differing only by 1 eq. of hydrogen from the formula 

 above obtained by adding together choleic acid and 

 urate of ammonia. 



30. If, then, we consider choleic acid and urate 

 of ammonia the products of the transformation of mus- 

 cular fibre, since no other tissue in the body con- 

 tains proteine (for albumen passes into tissues, without 

 our being able to say, that in the vital process it is di- 

 rectly resolved into choleic acid, and urate of ammonia), 

 there exist in fibrine, with the addition of the elements 

 of water, all the elements essential to this metamor- 

 phosis ; and, except the sulphur and phosphorus, both 

 of which are probably oxidized, no element is separated. 



This form of metamorphosis is applicable to the vital 

 transformations in the lower classes of amphibia, and 

 perhaps in worms and insects. In the higher classes 

 of animals the uric acid disappears in the urine, and is 

 replaced by urea. 



The disappearance of uric acid and the production 

 of urea plainly stand in a very close relation to the 

 amount of oxygen absorbed in respiration, and to the 



