RELATION OF STARCH TO BILE. 149 



56. The comparison of the amount of carbon in the 

 bile secreted by an herbivorous animal, with the quan- 

 tity of carbon of its tissues, or of the nitrogenized con- 

 stituents of its food, which, in consequence of the con- 

 stant transformations, may pass into bile, indicates, as 

 we have just seen, a great difference. 



The carbon of the bile secreted amounts, at least, 

 to more than five times the quantity of that which could 

 reach the liver in consequence of the change of matter 

 in the body, either from the metamorphosed tissues or 

 from the nitrogenized constituents of the food ; and we 

 may regard as well founded the supposition, that the 

 non-azotized constituents of the food take a decided 

 share in the production of bile in the herbivora ; for 

 neither experience nor observation contradicts this 

 opinion. 



57. We have given, in the foregoing paragraphs, 

 the analytical proof, that the nitrogenized products of 

 the transformation of bile, namely, taurine and ammo- 

 nia, may be formed from all the constituents of the 

 urine, with the exception of urea, that is, from hip- 

 puric acid, uric acid, and allantoine ; and when we 

 bear in mind that, by the mere separation of oxygen 

 and the elements of water, choloidic acid may be 

 formed from starch ; 



on the human body. Two or three drachms, in crystals, had no 

 injurious action on rabbits to which it was given. In man, a large 

 dose appeared to act only on the kidneys. In certain diseases 

 of the liver, alloxan would very probably be found a most powerful 

 remedy. J. L. 



