FORMATION OF THE BILE. 147 



posed according to the empirical formula C n H 10 O, 

 then, by the addition of oxygen and the elements of 

 water to the elements of proteine, we have the elements 

 of fat, urea, and carbonic acid. 



Proteine. Water. Oxygen. 



2 (C 48 N 6 H 36 14 ) + 12 HO + 14 O = C 96 N 12 H M O M = 

 t 6 at. urea ....== C 12 N 12 H 24 O 12 



= < Fat = C 66 H 60 6 



( 18 at. carbonic acid = C 18 O 36 



C 96 N 12 H 84 O 64 



The composition of all fats lies between the empirical 

 formulae C U H 10 O and C 12 H 10 O. If we adopt the lat- 

 ter, then the elements of 2 at. proteine, with the ad- 

 dition of 2 at. oxygen and 12 at. water, will yield 6 at. 

 urea, fat (C 72 H 60 O 6 ), and 12 at. carbonic acid. 



It is worthy of observation, in reference to the pro- 

 duction of fat, that the absence of common salt (a 

 compound of sodium, which furnishes soda to the ani- 

 mal organism) is favorable to the formation of fat ; 

 that the fattening of an animal is rendered impossible, 

 when we add to its food an excess of salt, although 

 short of the quantity required to produce a purgative 

 effect. 



53. As a kind of general view of the metamorphoses 

 of the nitrogenized animal secretions, attention may 

 here be very properly directed to the fact, that the 

 nitrogenized products of the transformation of the bile 

 are identical in ultimate composition with the constitu- 

 ents of the urine, if to the latter be added a certain 

 proportion of the elements of water. 



