On animal chemistry in its application to stomach and renal diseases / by H. Bence Jones.

Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On animal chemistry in its application to stomach and renal diseases / by H. Bence Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    LECTURE I. the repair of the wasted muscles and tissues, and for the support of the animal heat. Let me say a few words on this our gaseous food. The air is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. It passes into the air- vesicles. In the moisture of the air-vesicles this oxygen gas, and probably some nitrogen gas, must be dissolved. The fluid takes up a portion of these gases, and they are absorbed by the blood. The oxygen, possessing all its chemical pro- perties, circulates to the systemic capillaries, and there chiefly the formation of carbonic acid takes place. The carbonic acid, dissolved in the serum, returns to the lungs, and escapes usually with a slight excess of nitrogen above the quantity inspired. . An easy expiration consists of from fifteen to eighteen cubic inches of air, and this contains about three and a half per cent, of carbonic acid. A deep expiration contains six or eight per cent, of carbonic acid, and will not support combustion. Hence, in twenty-four hours, from seven to fourteen ounces of carbon are thrown out burnt daily, and this carbon is derived from the starch, sugar, fat, &c., taken as food. On these the inspired oxygen acts, and if these are absent from the food, fat is absorbed from the cellular tissue, and burnt. I do not consider that the oxygen acts on the non-nitro- genous substances alone, for there is evidence of the action of oxygen on the albuminous substances in the body, both on those which have been assimilated, and also on those which have recently been taken in as food. I shall show you, that if an excess of water, of chlorides, of sulphates, and of phosphates, be taken into the blood, the excess is removed. If an excess of fat or oil is taken, some portion of it also is thrown out. If even an excess of albu- minous substance be eaten, a portion of it is acted on by the oxygen inspired, and is thus more easily removed. Ulti-