778 
DE. SMITH ON THE ELIMINATION 
There are, however, no fewer than seventeen exceptions in reference to the relative 
position of the basis quantities and the average of the day. In several instances the 
excess of the basis quantity was very small, but during the occurrence of the frost in 
December the basis exceeded the day average, on four out of five weeks, by 4’6, 3*7, 2T, 
and 7’6 grs. per hour. In five weekly averages the basal rate fell below the night rate. 
Plate XXXIII. shows that, in reference to the relative position of the night rate of 
excretion, on only thirteen occasions throughout the whole year did it exceed the day 
rate, and then only to the small extent stated in the following Table : — 
Table XI. — Showing the exceptional mstances in which the night rate exceeded the day 
rate of excretion of urea, and the amount in excess. 
I860. 
Grains per hour. 
Grains per hour. 
April 10. 
•4 
June 22. 
•45 
12. 
•83 
23. 
•15 
16. 
•18 
25. 
•15 
May 11. 
3-85 
January 25. 
1-17 
16. 
1-3 
December 4. 
•17 
18. 
•5 
8. 
1-74 
24. 
•6 
The most marked exception occurred on May 11, in which the excess was 20 per cent, 
of the day rate, and was occasioned by an unusually large supper, which was eaten on 
that night. The same kind of explanation is also applicable to the exception on April 
12 ; but in several other instances, as on December 4 and 8, the exception was due to an 
unusually low day rate of excretion of urea and urine. In a future part of this paper I 
shall consider more fully the influence of food in varying the day and night rate of 
elimination of urea. 
The investigation of the true value of the basis quantities is beset with much difiiculty ; 
for whilst on a large average they are less than the day rate and greater than the night 
rate, there are not fewer than seventy-two exceptions to the former and twenty-four to 
the latter law ; and whilst many of them are insignificant, there are others in which the 
variation is very considerable. I think it of great physiological importance to determine 
if these quantities will at all represent the average of the day, or be any fixed standard 
with which to compare other returns of a varying nature ; and with a view to the more 
complete investigation of this period, I have abstracted and tabulated these exceptions, 
and have placed by then’ side the actual quantities of urine emitted on the same and on 
the previous day. It is very probable that, if any relation exists between the urea in the 
basis quantity and the total quantity of urine of the day, it will have reference to the day 
preceding the “ basis quantity.” 
