On the composition of the faeces of man in health and in diabetes mellitus / by John Percy.

  • John Percy
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the composition of the faeces of man in health and in diabetes mellitus / by John Percy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    JO 3. Examination of the Ash.—A portion oJ’ the fasces which had been well treated with alcohol was incinerated. The odour of burnt horn was evolved. The residuum was a mixture of white and red particles, and the intensity of the red colour excited some surprise. It w'as treated with water, wdiich only partially dissolved it. Aqueous Solution, a. Immediately restored the colour of red litmus-paper. b. No effervescence on the addition of hydrochloric acid (no car- bonic acid). c. Yellowish precipitate by addition of nitrate of silver, entirely redissolved by nitric acid (^phosphoric acid). d. As the extract which had been well treated by alcohol was employed for incineration, the chlorides must have been removed. Solution by Nitric Acid of Matter insoluble in Water.— Precipi- tate with chloride of barium, partially redissolved by nitric acid (sulphuric and phosphoric acids). The examination was not further proceeded with. Re-examination of the fixed Saline Matter of these Faeces.—After again drying during several hours between 100° and 110° Cent., 61‘01 grs. were weighed. As the faeces always emitted during the drying a strong odour, as the same quantity had been dried several times, and as some matter had evidently condensed upon the inner surface of the small copper drying-oven, it is to be expected that the per-centage of ash would be somewhat greater in this determina- tion than in the preceding one. Accordingly it will be seen that there was a difference of excess, although very slight. By incinera- tion foetid gas was copiously evolved, and burned with a smoky flame, like that produced by the combustion of tallow; and at first some brownish oily matter condensed around the edge of the plati- num crucible. The ash, which had a light brown colour, weighed 5‘71 =9‘36 per cent. Stallard obtained 9'26 and 9‘35. The plati- num crucible was slightly attacked. The ash was washed with hot water until the wash-water ceased to be affected by nitrate of silver. The salts soluble in water, as determined by loss, amounted to 2‘59; the salts insoluble to 3T2; or, salts soluble in water, 45‘35 per cent.; and insoluble, 54'65. (By Stallard).—3‘37 grs., \vashed with boiling water until wash- water ceased to be affected by nitrate of silver, gave of saline matter soluble in water, P51, of which alcohol of 830° spec. grav. removed 0’26 ; and of insoluble, P86. Or, salts soluble in water, 44’80 per cent.; and insoluble, 55‘20. Of the former, 7‘71 were soluble in alcohol of 830°, and 37’09 insoluble. Examination of the Aqueous Solution of the Soluble Salts. a. By reducing the volume of the solution by evaporation, a few white flocculi separated, which would probably have been inappre- ciable by the balance. b. By addition of acetate of baryta, a very copious white precipi- tate was produced, which w'as in great measure redissolved by addi- tion of a few drops of nitric acid. The usual analytical precautions having been observed, 0‘31 of sulphate of baryta was obtained. c. To solution (b.), after separation of sulphate of baryta, nitrate
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