URINE OF CHELONIANS. 



131 



A microscopical and chemical examination, revealed the following ingredients :- 



Uric acid, in lozenge-shaped and hexagonal 

 crystals. 



Urate of ammonia, in minute globules. 

 Triple phosphate, prismatic and stellate crystals. 

 Phosphate of lime. 



If urea was present, it must have been in very small quantities, for nitric acid 

 and the microscope failed to reveal its presence. 



Phosphate of ammonia. 



" of magnesia. 

 Carbonate of lime in stellate crystals. 

 Albumen in small quantity. 

 Mucus. 



Urine of a male Yellow-bellied Terrapin, which had been kept without food and 

 drink for 49 days. July 9. 



Weight of terrapin, May 25th . . . . . 1*7,791 grains. 



" " July 9th . . . . . 14,400 " 



" lost during forty-five days .... 3,39t " 



Loss of weight each hour, = ^ Jg^th of weight of body. 



The bladder had not been emptied during its confinement, and held six flui- 

 drachms of yellow-colored urine, which contained a small, white deposit of the 

 urate of ammonia. 



Amount of the urate of ammonia, thirty minims. Sp.gr. of urine, 1019.4. 

 1000 parts contained — 



Water ......... 954.65 



Alcohol extract, and urea in small amount 29.26"^ 



Uric acid and vesical mucus . . 4.91 >- Solid constituents . 45.35 

 Fixed saline constituents . . 11.18) 



The extractive matters were viscid, gummy, of a red color, and exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to evaporate to complete dryness. The uric acid was combined with ammonia 

 and other alkalies. The amount of urea present was very small. 



Urine of a Salt-water Terrapin {Emys terrapin), which had been kept without 

 food and drink for 40 days. July 23. 



Weight of terrapin, June 16th ..... 14,285 grains. 



July 23d . . . . . 11,400 " 



" lost during thirty-eight days .... 2,885 " 



Loss of weight during each hour, grs. 3^%- 



1„7_ 

 0 0 



6 6 



of original weight. 



The bladder contained six fluidrachms of clear, limpid urine, having a decided 

 acid reaction. Sp. gr. 1015. Whole amount of urine excreted during thirty-eight 

 days, about 300 grains. 



1000 parts contained — 



Water ......... 965.34 



Urea and alcohol extract 

 Water extract 

 Uric acid and vesical mucus 

 Soluble fixed saline constituents 

 Insoluble fixed saline constituents 



15.2T 

 4.56 

 3.2Y 

 8.50 

 3.06 



