150 
NOTE ON A ELITE URINE. 
10. Ammonia did not produce any alteration in the color- 
ing matter. 
11. Potassa disengaged ammonia, and, by boiling, de^ 
stroyed the coloring matter. 
According to M. Bouchardat, this urine appeared to con- 
tain the saline principles of ordinary urine: as regards the 
coloring matter, it was quite special, and the microscopical 
examination as well as the action, induce the belief that it 
was a peculiar organic substance. 
What can have been the origin of this singular matter? 
It is known that, under the influence of hydrochloric acid, 
albumen gives an intense blue color, which is not altogether 
unlike the product in question; but, in the economy, this 
acid is never found in a state of concentration sufficient for 
producing this conversion. 
M. Bouchardat concludes by adding, that he observed, 
twelve years ago, a blue coloring matter which bore the 
greatest resemblance to the sediment of this urine, and 
which acted in exactly the same manner with reagents; it 
was produced by the spontaneous alteration of gluten, kept 
in dry air. It may be admitted, according to that, that al- 
buminous matters are susceptible of being spontaneously 
converted, in certain rare and undetermined circumstances, 
into organic globules of a fine blue color. Ibid. 
