ORIGIN OF THE BILE. 151 



it contains is converted into carbonate of ammonia ; 

 the elements of urea are in such proportion, that by the 

 addition of the elements of water, all its carbon is con- 

 verted into carbonic acid, and all its nitrogen into am- 

 monia. 



1 at. urea C 2 N 2 H 4 O 2 > _ J 2 at. carbonic acid C 2 O 4 



2 at. water H 2 O 3 $ ~~ \ 2 at. ammonia . . . N 2 H 6 



C 2 N. t H 6 O 4 C 2 N 2 H 6 O 4 



60. Were we able directly to produce taurine and 

 ammonia out of uric acid or allantoine, this might per- 

 haps be considered as an additional proof of the share 

 which has been ascribed to these compounds in the 

 production of bile ; it cannot, however, be viewed as 

 any objection to the views above developed on the 

 subject, that, with the means we possess, we have not 

 yet succeeded in effecting these transformations out of 

 the body. Such an objection loses all its force, when 

 we consider that we cannot admit, as proved, the pre- 

 existence.of taurine and ammonia in the bile ; nay, that 

 it is not even probable, that these compounds, which 

 are only known to us as products of the decomposition 

 of the bile, exist ready formed, as ingredients of that 

 fluid. 



By the action of muriatic acid on bile, we, in a 

 manner, force its elements to unite in such forms as are 

 no longer capable of change under the influence of the 

 same reagent ; and when, instead of the acid, we use 

 potash, we obtain the same elements, although arranged 

 in another, and quite a different manner. If taurine were 

 present, ready formed, in bile, we should obtain the 



