1908.] Destiny of Cholesterol in the Animal Organism. 115 



cholesterol were decolorised by animal charcoal and recrystallised from 

 alcohol. The larger crop melted at 139° and was practically pure cholesterol, 

 but the smaller crop softened at about 125° and melted at 135°. Under the 

 microscope the latter appeared to consist mainly of cholesterol, but was 

 contaminated with phytosterol. The benzoate after recrystallisation melted 

 at 144° to 145° to a turbid liquid which cleared at 180° and on cooling 

 showed the characteristic play of colour in a well-marked manner. About 

 1 gramme of purified cholesterol was in this way obtained. Evidently 

 therefore the rabbit had absorbed between 0"5 and 1 gramme of cholesterol 

 during the time of the experiment. The animal remained in good health for 

 some weeks afterwards, its weight remaining constant, when it was killed for 

 another purpose. 



Experiment IV. — The rabbit used in this experiment weighed 1"7 kilo- 

 grammes, and was very thin. It was fed for the three days prior to the 

 commencement of the experiment on extracted bran ; it was then given 

 0"25 gramme of cholesterol and 60 to 70 grammes of extracted bran daily 

 for eight days, and extracted bran alone for three more days. Care was 

 taken that the animal took the whole of the cholesterol, but it wasted a 

 good deal of the bran. The animal lost weight during the whole experiment, 

 and died the day after, when its weight was 1*3 kilogrammes. A post-mortem 

 examination showed that the animal was very thin, and in poor condition. 

 The intestine was filled with a watery fluid, the liver very dark in colour, 

 and the stomach dilated with gas. It may be noted that during this 

 experiment the weather was very cold, and for a few days the heating 

 apparatus was out of order, so that possibly this may have had something 

 to do with the death of the animal, which was not in the best of condition 

 at the start. 



Three hundred and twelve grammes of dry fgeces were obtained. The 

 ethereal extract was pale yellow in colour, and on evaporation gave 

 146 grammes of unsaponifiable matter as a greasy brown solid. This 

 dissolved in 85 to 90 per cent, alcohol, with the exception of a small 

 amount of tar which was insoluble in absolute alcohol, though soluble in 

 ether. On standing, the solution deposited - 79 gramme of brown crystalline 

 matter. A further crop, weighing - 32 gramme, was obtained on long 

 standing. This was more granular in appearance, and rather sticky. The 

 mother liquors were evaporated to dryness and benzoylated in pyridine 

 solution, but no matter difficultly soluble in alcohol could be isolated. 



The two crops were decolorised by animal charcoal and recrystallised. 

 The first deposit melted at 142° to 143°, and under the microscope was seen 

 to consist of practically pure cholesterol. The second crop of crystals 



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