850 
INFLUENCE OF NERVES ON NUTRITION. 
priori, to arrest oxidation ; and, in fact, if an animal be sub¬ 
mitted to the inhalation of oxide of carbon in non-poisonous 
doses, a diminution is observed of the products, which may be 
regarded as affording a measure of the intensity of the oxida¬ 
tion, diminution of the urea, of the total nitrogen, and espe¬ 
cially a diminution in the proportion of the urea to the total 
nitrogen. 
M. Ritter has studied three bodies which resemble each 
other very much in their action, and which are, in the order 
of their energy, antimony, arsenic, and phosphorus. The 
compounds of these metalloids, introduced into the organism, 
lead to a diminution of the quantity of urea and of the total 
quantity of nitrogen, and an augmentation of the quantity of 
uric acid. The urine is alkaline. Taken in stronger doses, 
they lead to changes in the blood—dissolution of the cor¬ 
puscles, and the presence of crystals of hcemoglobine. In 
these cases, the urine contains albumen, colouring matters of 
the bile, &c.; it is profoundly changed. If the dose be less 
strong, there is found in the blood, and in the whole organism, 
an increase of fat and of cholesterine. They are, then, agents 
of deoxidation. 
As to the acids of the bile, M. Ritter has found that tauro- 
cholate of soda, injected directly into the blood, has an action 
analogous to that of phosphorus, but more energetic. 
A criticism is suggested by the perusal of this interesting 
monograph on the action of various agents on the compo¬ 
sition of the urine. Are these changes necessarily con¬ 
secutive to the changes of the blood-corpuscle ? M. Ritter 
affirms it by the title of his thesis. The oxide of carbon 
acts on the globule; antimony, arsenic, and phosphorus, do 
so when they are administered in strong doses; but, in the 
other cases reviewed, it has not been proved that alteration 
of the corpuscle takes place. It is probable, but not yet 
demonstrated.— British Medical Journal. 
INFLUENCE OF NERVES ON NUTRITION. 
Various contributions have been made in reference to this 
physiological question since we last referred to the subject in 
connection with the researches of Sinitzin (Journal, vol. i, 
1871, p. 535). Fischer ( Berlin. Klin. Wochenschr., 1871? 
No. 13) and Schifferdecker ( Berlin. Klin. Wochenschr., 1871, 
No. 14) have described very minutely the abnormalities of 
