58 
DR. BENCE JONES ON A NEW SUBSTANCE 
January 2nd. — The patient died. The following day I saw that the bony structure 
of the ribs was cut with the greatest ease, and that the bodies of the vertebrae were 
capable of being sliced off with the knife*. For an account of the structure of the 
bone, see a paper by Mr. Dalrymple in the third number of the Dublin Journal, 
August 1846. 
The variation in the coagulability by heat observed in these different examinations 
of the urine might possibly have arisen from the variation in the acidity of the secre- 
tion. Free acid might have hindered the coagulation. The only other supposition 
is that the composition of this new substance varied slightly at different times, and, 
on the whole, this seems not unlikely to have been the case. 
The variations in the amount of earthy and alkaline phosphates in this case may 
be arranged in the following Table : — 
Earthy phosphates. Total phosphates. 
1st analysis. 
2nd analysis. 
3rd analysis. 
4th analysis. 
5th analysis. 
Urine, specific gravity 
■=1043-2 
Urine, specific gravity 
= 1039*6 
1*20 
Urine, specific gravity 
= 1031*3 
1*43 
Urine, specific gravity 
= 1037*9 
1*57 
Urine, specific gravity 
= 1042*7 
1*72 
5’68 per 1000 urine. 
5 ‘65 per 1000 urine. 
8’05 per 1000 urine. 
8‘24 per 1000 urine. 
11*85 per 1000 urine. 
Reactions of this new substance precipitated from the Urine by Alcohol, well-washed, 
dried and powdered. 
The substance slowly but entirely dissolved when thrown into cold water. 
It was much more readily dissolved by boiling water ; if the boiling was continued, 
at first no appearance of coagulation was evident, but, after ten minutes, in repeated 
experiments a gelatinous coagulation took place. By continuing the boiling, adding 
small quantities of water from time to time, the coagulum in an hour entirely 
redissolved. 
If water was poured on the powdered substance it sometimes caked together, and 
on boiling became horny, and resisted the action even of long-continued heat. 
The substance was soluble in caustic potash, and, after longstanding, at the ordi- 
nary temperature, or at 140°. When the alkaline solution was neutralized by acetic 
acid, no precipitate formed, but if an excess of acid was added, a plentiful precipi- 
tate fell, which was insoluble in more acetic acid, but was readily soluble by heat. 
If a great excess of acetic acid was added the precipitate was dissolved. 
The solution of this substance in water gave an immediate precipitate with nitric 
acid, which entirely and readily dissolved when heated. Boiling caused no precipi- 
tation. On cooling, the precipitate again was formed. If the watery solution was 
acidulated with acetic acid, an immediate white precipitate fell on the addition of 
ferro-prussiate of potash. The precipitate was soluble in caustic potash. 
* The pericardium contained an ounce or two of fluid, which gave a precipitate immediately by heat and 
acid. The coagulum did not redissolve when heated. The fluid was feebly alkaline; specific gravity 1015'3. Heat 
and acid coagulated the blood, and on heating the acid coagulum it did not redissolve. The kidneys were 
healthy to the naked eye and to the microscope. 
