NEW TEST FOR BILE. 
117 
monia of which retains the proto and peroxides of copper 
in solution until it is completely expelled by boiling, where- 
by the reduction of the oxide of copper may be readily ef- 
fected by other substances. Pure manna and gall, when 
treated as above described, afford no trace of the peculiar 
reaction. It is thus easy to detect grape-sugar in manna. 
Ibidjfrom Jinn, der Chem. und Pharm. 
ART. XXX.— ON PETTENKOFER'S NEW TEST FOR BILE. 
By Dr. W. J. Griffith. 
The test proposed by M. Pettenkofer is an exceedingly 
valuable one, and when applied in conjunction with that of 
the well-known reaction of acids on the colouring matter, 
will serve to supply what has hitherto been a desideratum, 
viz. a ready means of recognizing the peculiar biliary and 
the colouring matters in animal fluids. In a case of jaun- 
dice, which I had an opportunity of examining, the urine 
was of a golden-yellow colour, slightly albuminous, and not 
containing more than the ordinary proportion of other in- 
gredients; on the addition of nitric acid, the green and red 
tints were well-marked, the former exceedingly intense ; but 
on applying the sulphuric acid and syrup as recommended, 
and adopting the requisite precautions, not the slightest evi- 
dence of the presence of the choleic acid could be obtained, 
nor on analysis by the ordinary methods was I more suc- 
cessful ; I therefore consider this a well-marked example 
(and I have since found another) wherein the biliary co- 
louring matter only was separated with the urine. In exa- 
mining a number of healthy urines, with a view to test the 
validity of this purple colour with the acid syrup, I was 
vol. xi. — NO. II. 1 1 
