CHEMICAL RESEARCHES ON THE ANJMAL FLUIDS* ig^ 



quantity of chyle begins to diminish, the appearance of the 

 fluid in the duct is similar to that of milk and water; and 

 lastly, where the animal has fasted for twenty-four hours or 

 longer, the thoracic duct contains a transparent fluid, which 

 is pure lympk. 



A. The chyle has the following properties. Properties of 

 AiTi "n 1-1 A • r^ 1 T ■ • thcchyh. 



1. When collected without any admixture or blood, it is 



an opaque fluid of a perfectly white colour, without smell, 

 and having; a slightly salt taste, accompanied by a degree of 

 sweetness. 



2. The colour of litmus is not affected by it, or that of 

 paper stained with turmeric; but it slowly changes the blue 

 colour of infusion of violets to green. 



3. Its speciflc gravity is somewhat greater than that of 

 water, but less than that of the blood ; this, however, is 

 probably liable to much variation. 



4. In about tea minutes after it is removed from the duct, Separates int» 

 it assumes the appearance of a stiff jelly, which in the course ^"'^P'VW* 



of twenty-four hours gradually separates into two parts, pro- 

 ducing a firm and contracted coagulum, surrounded by a 

 transparent colourless fliuid. These spontaneous changes, 

 which I have observed in every instance where the chyle was 

 examined at a proper period after taking food, are very si- 

 milar to the coagulation of the blood and its subsequent 

 separation into serum and crassamentum ; they are also re- 

 tarded and accelerated by similar means. 



B. 1. The coagulated portion bears a nearer resemblance Properties of 

 to the caseous part of milk than to the fibrine of theblood. ^^e coagulum. 



2. It is rapidly dissolved by the caustic and subcarbonated Action of 

 alkalis. With soluti ns of potash and soda it forms pale ^'^^''^j 

 brown compounds, from which, when recent, a little ammo- 

 nia is evolved. In liquid ammonia the solution is of a red- 

 dish hue. 



3. The action of the acids upon these different compounds acids^ 

 is attended with nearly similar phenomena, a substance be- 

 ing separated ntermediate in its properties between fat and 

 albumen. Nitr'C acid addt:i in excess redi&solves this pre- 

 cipitate in the cold, and sulphuric, muriatic, and acetic acids 

 when boiled upon it for a short time. 



4. Neither alcohol nor ether exerts any action upon the alcohol and 



coagulum ^^^^'* 



