EDITORIAL REMARKS. 
649 
the presence either of butyric or of lactic acid in the clear 
alcoholic solution of faeces filtered from the precipitate formed 
by the milk of lime. From the above investigation, therefore, 
it appears that healthy human excrements contain : 
“ 1. A new organic substance, possessing an alkaline re- 
action, which the author names excretine. 
“2. A fatty acid, having the properties of margaric acid, 
but not constantly present. 
u 3. A colouring matter, similar to that of blood and urine. 
“ 4. A light granular substance, whose properties have not 
yet been sufficiently examined to admit of its being considered 
a pure substance. 
“5. An acid olive-coloured substance, of a fatty nature, 
named excretoic acid. 
“6. No butyric acid and no lactic acid. 
cc The faeces of various animals were submitted to the same 
process of analysis, with the following results : 
“ 1. The excrements of carnivorous mammalia, viz., the 
tiger, leopard, and dog (fed on meat), contain a substance 
allied in its nature to excretine, but not identical with it. 
They contain no excretine ; they yield butyric acid, which is 
not present in human excrements. 
“ 2. The excrements of the crocodile contain cholesterine 
and no uric acid ; while those of the boa yield uric acid and 
no cholesterine. 
“3, The faeces of herbivorous animals, viz., the horse, 
sheep, dog (fed on bread), wild boar, elephant, deer, and 
monkey, contain no excretine, no butyric acid, and no 
cholesterine.” 
THE VETERINARIAN, NOVEMBER 1, 1854. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat. — Cicero. 
On Tuesday, the 16th instant, Professor Morton delivered 
to a crowded auditory his " Introductory Lecture.” It was 
a kindly and instructive address, opening the session of 
1854-55 — one w 7 ell calculated to win the affections of the 
young, while it elicited the applause of the elders present, as 
w T ell by the applicability of the observations made, as by the 
pleasing manner in which they were delivered from the chair. 
An Introductory Lecture is not an inapt appellation, since, 
xxvii. 84 
