406 
DR. BENCE JONES ON THE OXIDATION OP 
(27.) A child, seven years old, was given 5 grs. of muriate of ammonia in tea, at 
breakfast. The urine made during the day, and up to 8 o’clock the following morn- 
ing, in quantity 16 ounces, contained a considerable quantity of nitric acid, by indigo, 
starch and protosulphate of iron tests. 
Finding that salts of ammonia in transitu through the body gave rise to nitric 
acid, I made the following experiment to see whether out of the body nitric acid 
could be produced by the direct combustion of ammonia. 
Ammoniacal gas was passed into alcohol. This ammoniacal alcohol, specific gra- 
vity about '861, was burnt in a spirit-lamp : the products of combustion were passed 
through a dilute solution of carbonate of potash by means of an aspirator. In all 
about 3 ounces of alcohol were burnt, the combustion lasting one hour. The solu- 
tion of carbonate of potash was tested for nitric acid, without being evaporated to a 
smaller bulk ; and the presence of nitric acid was most distinctly proved by the starch 
test, by the indigo test, and by the protosulphate of iron test. Thus by simple com- 
bustion out of the body, as well as in the body, nitric acid was produced. 
The close relation of urea to carbonate of ammonia immediately gave rise to the 
idea that possibly it also would be changed in transitu. 
Experiments with Urea. 
(28.) At 1 1^ 30“ A.M. 20 grs. of urea were taken in 3 ounces of distilled water. 
At 6 p.M. the slightest trace of nitric acid was found by the starch test in 9 ounces 
of urine. 
At 12^ 30“ p.M. about 9 ounces of urine gave no nitric acid. 
At 7^ 30“ A.M. 11 ounces gave no trace of nitric acid. 
(29.) The experiment was repeated with 40 grs. of urea. 
The urine passed from 7^ 30“ to ll** 45“ a.m. was about 5 ounces; it contained no 
trace of nitric acid. 
At 11^ 45“ A.M. 40 grs. of urea were taken in 4 ounces of distilled water. 
At 6 p.M. about 12 ounces of urine gave evidence of plenty of nitric acid by the 
indigo test and the starch test. 
At 12 p.M. about 7 ounces. No proof of nitric acid. 
At 7^ 30“ A.M. about 12 ounces. Gave no proof. 
To 7^’ 30“a.m., the following morning, the urine in quantity 48 ounces, gave no trace 
of nitric acid. 
(30.) These experiments were also made on another person. 
At 12 A.M. 20 grs. of urea were taken dissolved in 5 ounces of water. 
At I** 30“ p.M. 6 ounces of urine passed, acid to test-paper. Gave with the starch 
decided proof of nitric acid. 
At 4 p.M. 3 ounces gave slighter proof of nitric acid. 
To 9 A.M. the water when evaporated and distilled gave no evidence of nitric 
acid. 
