80 W. Gibbs on the Constitution of Organic Compounds. 
The experiment has not to my knowledge been tried,* but J 
Strecker's discovery that isethionate of ammonium by ‘losing — 
two equivalents of water is converted into taurin leaves little 
doubt that taurin is the ammonium of isethionic acid, and that 
the latter acid is to be referred to the type of four equivalents of 
water. Strecker’s Pose is cues by the rational equation 
OE Bs 0:—2HO= Oitt io NO-+LHO. 
NH 
Choleic acid may be egeitied: as an in which an equivalent 
‘of hydrogen in the ammonium is replaced by an equivalent of 
the radical of Becleie acid. Its formula upon this view is 
S204 
vo C1Hs {0-H 
C4sH2508 4 
It must be remarked however that this formula contains one 
equivalent of water less than that deduced by Strecker from his 
analyses. Assuming it to be correct, it shows that there exists 
the same relation. between ee and choleic acid as beta 
Ee eT a ee 
5 
3 
ao 
=e 
oO 
c 
| 
| 
@ 
ss 
ha] 
= 
oO 
Aut 
3 
Rr 
= 
ae 
°Q 
"$9 
ne 
rc 
© 
"hy 
R 
- E 
a 
cumstances, Should this result be obtained it would show that 
the kidneys are capable of producing under certain circumstances 
a true biliary secretion. 
Asparagin.—The formula of this body may be reduced to the 
type of two equivalents of oxyd of ammonium, but the data for | 
determining the particular character of the radicals replacing 
pean gee are not at present sufficient. I shall therefore eontent 
myself with suggesting that asparagin may have the formula 
x | C2HO2. CoH. He } 
02, 
n4 C2HO2. 2H. He t 
— 
oe ve los mi relations to ayooet are obvious. It may also 
e referr e same type by supposing that it contains gly- 
oxal, the formula being th .S PY SEPP ioe wes 
N } Ci02.H: | 
02, 
Nj O:H202, He a 
a views will be discussed more fully in speaking of malic 
* Since the above was written, I have made the experiment in question and with 
complete success, obtaining isethionate of Poteet the action of nitrite of 
upon taurin dissolved i in dilate nitric acid.—w, wae ie 
