ARTICLE V. 
On the Conversion of Benzotc into Hippuric Acid. By James C. Booth and Martin H. 
Boye. Read May 29, 1843. 
THE importance of the application of chemical principles to the various processes in 
the animal economy, not less than their interesting character in a scientific point of view, 
having led us to undertake a few experiments on a singular fact observed some years since 
by Woehler, we have deemed them worthy of being offered to your notice on the present 
occasion, although time has failed in completing the series of investigations which was 
contemplated. I therefore propose to offer you a few remarks on the ‘Conversion of 
Benzoic into Hippuric acid,” which are the results of the conjoint labours of Professor 
Booth and myself. 
Before entering into the details of the present treatise, it may not be out of the way to 
make a few remarks on some of the most important ingredients of urine, as far as con- 
nected with the present subject; urine contains about ninety-three parts of water and 
seven of solid substances. Of these seven parts of solid substances, a substance called 
urea forms three parts. About two parts are formed by inorganic substances, such as 
chlorides of potassium, sodium and ammonium, sulphates of soda and potassa, and the 
phosphates of lime, magnesia, soda, and ammonia; while the remaining two parts are 
mostly formed of other organic substances, as extractive matters, mucus of the bladder, 
some lactic acid and uric acid. 
Urea is in every respect the most remarkable substance in the urine, and that which 
imparts to it its most peculiar characters. It is a white crystallizable substance, and very 
soluble in water. It seems to stand on the borders between organic and inorganic sub- 
stances. It may be produced artificially from inorganic substances, and is itself readily 
converted into carbonate of ammonia by taking up the elements of one atom of water. It 
combines with some acids, such as the nitric and oxalic acids, and performs in these 
compounds the part of a base. 
Lithic or uric acid forms only a very small part of the urine; being about one-seventieth 
of the solid substances, and only one-ten thousandth part of the whole urine. It is very 
insoluble in water, and this is the reason that it for the most part deposits from urine on 
cooling. By oxidation it yields, among other products, urea. It forms the greater part 
of urinary concretions. 
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