TRANSFORMATION OF PROTOCHLORIDE OF MERCURY. 663 
The obtaining of pure urea from horse’s urine is rendered 
very difficult and uncertain by any resinous substance for 
which it may have great affinity. It is further remarkable 
that, in morbid states, the urine of the horse contains much 
chlorine, which it is difficult to detect by means of the nitrate 
of the protoxide of mercury test. From the sediment of fil- 
tered urine, Fraas found from four analyses, in 100 parts : 
lime, 0*770; magnesia, O’ 158; sulphuric acid, 1*441; chlo- 
rine, 1*281 ; urea, 3*058; hippuric acid, 1*200; mucus, 0*243. 
The ashes of this urine (2 per cent.) yielded, in 100 parts 
— 70 of potash and soda, 10 of sulphuric acid, nearly 8 of 
chlorine, besides some lime, magnesia, iron, and phosphoric 
acid. The urine of a horse with Bright’s disease contained, 
in 100 fluid parts — 7*406 of urea, 6*843 of albumen, 1 78 of 
chlorine, 0 686 of sulphuric acid, 0*245 of lime, 0*279 of mag- 
nesia ; no hippuric, but traces of uric acid. The urine of a 
horse with effusions of fluid in the chest and abdomen 
contained 4 per cent, of solid matter, and 96 of water. Ana- 
lyses proved the existence of 0*22 parts of uric acid, 17'0 of 
urea, 270 of incombustible salts, 20 08 of extractive matter 
and volatile salts. 
The assertion of Fraas with reference to the chlorine of 
morbid urine is calculated to inspire great curiosity, as it is 
so opposed to what occurs in acute diseases affecting the 
human subject, when as in pneumonia, typhus, and such like, 
no trace of chlorine is to be discovered. 
Fraas, moreover, speaks as if, under certain circumstances, 
he can procure the chlorine by means of the nitrate of the 
protoxide of mercury. This is difficult to understand, as 
the chloride of sodium and mercurial salts would mutually 
decompose. Nitrate of soda and chloride of mercury, both 
soluble salts, would be formed, and the analysis by this 
means not at all advanced. 
I must not omit to point out that no advantage accrues by 
searching for the proportion of constituents of urine in 100 
parts ; it is only with reference to the quantities evacuated in 
a stated time, sucli as a day or a week, that interest attends 
investigations of this kind. 
Facts and Observations. 
ON THE TRANSFORMATION WHICH PROTOCHLORIDE OF 
MERCURY UNDERGOES IN THE ORGANISM. 
M. Berthes has found that if the protochloride of mer- 
cury — calomel — be subjected to the influence of an elevated 
