40 
Scientific Proceedings (41). 
23 (548) 
Observations on the nitrogen content of the succus entericus. 
By HERMAN 0. MOSENTHAL, M.D. 
[From the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry and from the Depart- 
ment of Medicine of Columbia University, at the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, New York.] 
The succus entericus in these experiments was obtained by 
means of a "Thiry" fistula in dogs. The nitrogen content and 
the quantity of the succus entericus secreted by the entire small 
intestine of each dog in twenty-four hours was estimated by 
multiplying the amounts collected from the fistula in a given 
period by two factors: first, by the figure necessary to bring the 
number of hours up to twenty-four, and second, by the figure 
required to compensate for the length of the dog's small intestine, 
as determined at autopsy. 
Summarizing the protocols, the following average figures are 
obtained : 
N of Suc- 
N of Succus Entericus 
Number ol 
Weight of 
N 
cus Enteri- 
N of 
Nof 
as Per Cent, of : 
Observa- 
Dog, 
Intake, 
cus, Calcu- 
Feces, 
Urine, 
tions. 
kilos. 
gms. 
lated for 24 
gms. 
gms. 
N 
N 
N 
Hours, gms. 
Intake. 
Feces. 
Urine. 
Dog 1 
3 
13.9 
8.8 
3-1 
o.8i 
8.0 1 
35 
383 
39 
2 
5 
11. 7 
6.7 
2.4 
0.6 1 
5-0 
34 
393 
47 
3 
IS 
7.0 
7.4 
1-5 
0.7 
5-6 
21 
225 
27 
4 
14 
7-i 
4-3 
1.9 
0.3 
3.2 
43 
607 
59 
Conclusions. — Nitrogen to the amount of about 35 per cent, of 
the food nitrogen of a mixed diet, is daily secreted in the succus 
entericus in dogs. Of this quantity, an amount equal to about 
10 per cent, of the food nitrogen is excreted in the feces and an 
amount equal to about 25 per cent, of the food nitrogen is re- 
absorbed. The amount of reabsorbed nitrogen-containing ma- 
terial is considerably larger if the bile and pancreatic secretion are 
included. 
The metabolic significance of this reabsorption can only be 
surmised; that it is probably of great importance is indicated by 
the fact that in the experiments presented, so large an amount of 
nitrogen, i. e., equal to approximately 25 per cent, of the nitroge- 
nous part of the food, is concerned. 
^he value is estimated; was not determined. 
