AMMONIA IN THE HUMAN BODY. 
401 
Experiments with Carbonate of Ammonia. 
Breakfast was usually taken at 8 o’clock and dinner at 6 o’clock. Both meals con- 
sisted of mixed diet ; cocoa was taken at breakfast, and water only at dinner. 
(4.) At ll** 40 ®a,m. a single dose of 40grs. of carbonate of ammonia was taken 
dissolved in 8 ounces of distilled water. 
At 3 p.M. 8 ounces of urine were passed, which gave very decided evidence of nitric 
acid by the indigo test and by the starch test. 
At 6 p.M. 15 ounces of water : no result was obtained in consequence of an accident. 
At 1 1 p.M. 9 ounces. By the indigo test no nitric acid was found. By the starch 
test a slight trace of nitric acid was detectable. 
At 7^ 25“ A.M. 14 ounces. Gave no evidence of nitric acid by either test. 
Up to 7‘’ 25“ A.M. the following day 41 ounces of urine were passed. In this large 
quantity the indigo test gave no nitric acid ; but the starch test still showed slight 
evidence of the presence of the acid. 
Thus then after 40 grs. of carbonate of ammonia, nitric acid could be detected in 
the urine made three hours after the ammonia was taken. After twelve hours a trace 
was perceptible, and after twenty hours it had not altogether disappeared. 
(5.) This experiment was again repeated on the same person. 
At 7^ 20“ A.M. 16 ounces of urine were passed; on examination no trace of nitric 
acid could be detected by the indigo or starch tests. 40 grs. of carbonate of am- 
monia were taken, dissolved in distilled water; very active exercise followed for 
nearly an hour after the volatile alkali was taken. 
At 8*^ 40“ A.M. 4 ounces of urine were passed, and breakfast was then taken ; nitric 
acid was found to be present in considerable quantity, both by the indigo and starch 
tests. 
At 12^ 30“ A.M. 7 ounces of urine gave no proof of nitric acid by the indigo test, 
but distinct evidence by the starch test. 
At 3^" 30“ p.M. 5 ounces. Gave no proof by indigo ; less evident by the starch test. 
At 11 p.M. 12 ounces. Gave no evidence of nitric acid by either test. 
In this experiment, previous to any food being taken, nitric acid was found in the 
urine after a dose of carbonate of ammonia; although before the carbonate of am- 
monia was taken no nitric acid could be detected in four times the quantity of urine. 
For eight hours the nitric acid was detectable by the starch test. 
(6.) The same experiment was again repeated, but instead of active exercise there 
was perfect rest, after taking the carbonate of ammonia. 
At 6^* 45“ A.M. 15 ounces, in which no trace of nitric acid could be detected by the 
indigo or starch test. At this hour 40 grs. of carbonate of ammonia were taken in 
distilled water. 
At 8*’ 15 A.M. 5 ounces passed. The indigo test gave no proof of nitric acid ; the 
starch test showed the presence of a small quantity. 
