Pg. 353

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November 2, 2020

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 THE STOURBRIDGE BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 353

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 The author has in several cases observed the excretine to crystallise directly in the alcoholic solution of faeces before the addition of lime, and has scarcely any doubt that it exists for the most part in a free state in the excrements, and constitutes one of their immediate principles. As to its source, he observes that it appeared in excess when a considerable quantity of beef had been taken, and in less than the usual quantity in a case of diarrhoea attended with loss of appetite; but none could be directly obtained from beef on subjecting it to the same process of extraction as faeces. Neither could it be found in ox-bile, the urine, or the substance of the spleen. From the difficulty of obtaining the contents of the human small intestine in a healthy state, its presence or absence in that part of the alimentary canal has not yet been satisfactorily determined. The lime precipitate, after having been thus thoroughly deprived of the excretine by ether, is next treated with hydrochloric acid, and water or alcohol, by which means margaric acid is extracted from it. The author is uncertain whether the margaric acid of the faeces is free or combined with excretine; but he is disposed to conclude that the neutral fats are decomposed in the intestinal canal, and their acid set free. Not having been able to, detect stearic acid in human evacuations, he supposes that what is contained in the fat of mutton or beef taken as food must be converted into margaric acid in its passage through the alimentary canal. The lime precipitate, freed from excretine, and dissolved in alcohol by means of hydrochloric acid, forms a dark, port-wine-coloured solution, from which the margaric acid is deposited. On then adding water to the solution, and concentrating it on the waterbath, a flaky colouring matter separates, which, being purified by solution in ether, and washing with water, is obtained as a dark brown or black amorphous substance, similar to the colouring matter of blood, and to that which Dr. Harley has lately extracted from urine. The matters brought down with the lime having been thus extracted, the sediment which spontaneously subsides from the alcoholic solution of faeces before its treatment with the milk of lime is next examined. This deposit appears to be complex in its nature; it has a strongly acid re-action, and presents under the microscope small oily globules, mixed sometimes with crystals of excretine, and accompanied by a yellow amorphous matter. By boiling with alcohol and filtration, a residue remains, which the author has not yet examined, and two substances are obtained from the filtrate. The first is deposited on cooling; when collected and dried on filtering-paper it has a granular character, and is quite colourless; it is very sparingly soluble in ether, fuses by heat, and burns with a bright fuliginous flame, leaving a white residue, consisting of phosphate of potash. The author has not yet been able satisfactorily to decide whether this is a pure immediate principle or not; he is inclined to consider it as a combination of phosphate of potash and a pure organic substance. The filtered fluid, after separation of this matter, still contains a substance, which he has called Excretoic acid. It is obtained by evaporating to dryness, extracting the residue with ether, adding to the ethereal solution alcohol and lime-water, and heating. The acid is precipitated in combination with lime, from which it is separated by means of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid and solution in ether. The ethereal solution, after being well washed with water to remove mineral acid, yields the pure excretoic acid on evaporation. This body is of an olive colour; it fuses between 25° and 26° C., and at a higher temperature burns without residue. It is insoluble in water and in a boiling solution of potash; very soluble in ether; sparingly soluble in cold alcohol, readily so in hot; its solutions having a marked acid re-action. The author is disposed to believe that in excrement it is combined in form of a salt, with excretine or a basic substance closely allied to it, which is obtained in the filtrate from which the excretoic acid is precipitated in combination with lime in the process of its purification. The author failed to obtain evidence of the presence either of butyric or of lactic acid in the clear alcoholic solution of faeces filtered from the precipitate formed by the milk of lime. From the above investigation, therefore, it appears that healthy human excrements contain :—

0. ¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0
1. 1. A new organic substance, possessing an alkaline re-action, which the author names Excretine.
2. 2. A fatty acid, having the properties of margaric acid, but not constantly present.
3. 3. A colouring matter, similar to that of blood and urine.
4. 4. A light granular substance, whose properties have not yet been sufficiently examined to admit of its being considered a pure substance.
5. 5. An acid olive-coloured substance, of a fatty nature, named Excretoic acid.
6. 6. No butyric acid and no lactic acid.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 The faeces of various animals were submitted to the same process of analysis, with the following results:—

0. ¶ 6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0
1. 1. The excrements of carnivorous mammalia, viz., the tiger, leopard, and dog (fed on meat), contain a substance allied in its nature to excretine, but not identical with it. They contain no excretine; they yield butyric acid, which is not present in human excrements.
2. 2. The excrements of the crocodile contain cholesterine and no uric acid; while those of the boa yield uric acid and no cholesterine.
3. 3. The faeces of herbivorous animals, viz., the horse, sheep, dog (fed on bread), wild boar, elephant, deer, and monkey, contain no excretine, no butyric acid, and no cholesterine.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 THE STOURBRIDGE BOARD OF GUARDIANS

¶ 8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 AND THE

¶ 9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 NUISANCES REMOVAL ACT.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 Stourbridge, August 25, 1854.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 0 Sir,—It having been reported to the Board of Guardians that the Inspectors of Nuisances are in a great measure unable to remove several nuisances, owing to the want of a certificate from the Medical or Relieving Officer to enable them to take proceedings for removal of the same, I am directed by the Board to request that you will co-operate with the Inspector of Nuisances, and give them information of any nuisance in your district, and also furnish them with the certificate required by the Act of Parliament, and also by the direction of the Board of Health, so that proceedings may be properly taken when parties will not remove the nuisances without adopting that course.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on paragraph 12 0 Yours obediently, W. B. Collis, Clerk.

¶ 13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 0 H. Walker, Esq., Surgeon, Brierly-hill.

¶ 14 Leave a comment on paragraph 14 0 Stourbridge, Sept. 1, 1854.

¶ 15 Leave a comment on paragraph 15 0 Dear Sir,—I am directed by the Board of Guardians to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ult., and to transmit you a copy of a Resolution passed at their meeting this day.

¶ 16 Leave a comment on paragraph 16 0 I remain, dear Sir, your obedient servant,

¶ 17 Leave a comment on paragraph 17 0 W. B. Collis.

¶ 18 Leave a comment on paragraph 18 0 H. Walker, Esq., Surgeon, Brierly-hill.

¶ 19 Leave a comment on paragraph 19 0 The following letter from Mr. Walker, one of the Medical Officers of the Union, having been read and considered

¶ 20 Leave a comment on paragraph 20 0 Brierly-hill, August 26, 1854.

¶ 21 Leave a comment on paragraph 21 0 Dear Sir,—In reply to your letter of yesterday, I beg to say, that the removal of nuisances constitutes no part of my contract with the Guardians of this union, and that I cannot co-operate with the Inspectors of Nuisances until a reasonable rate of remuneration for my services is fixed upon.

¶ 22 Leave a comment on paragraph 22 0 I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, H. Walker.

¶ 23 Leave a comment on paragraph 23 0 W. B. Collis, Esq.

¶ 24 Leave a comment on paragraph 24 0 Ordered :—That the clerk do write to Mr. Walker, and express the extreme surprise of the Board that he should have written the above letter; and the Board hereby again require Mr. Walker forthwith to obey their directions with regard to the letter addressed by the clerk to him on the 25th August ult.; and, in default of his at once complying with such directions, they must request Mr. Walker will resign his office as one of the Surgeons to the Union.

¶ 25 Leave a comment on paragraph 25 0 The Board much regret, that at a time when the co-operation of the officers of the Union “ are ” especially necessary to prevent disease, that Mr. Walker should have written the letter in question.

¶ 26 Leave a comment on paragraph 26 0 The following two decisions are published in the official Circular, by the direction of the Poor-law Board, and intended for the guidance of Boards of Guardians and their officers

¶ 27 Leave a comment on paragraph 27 0 Vol. VII., page 19.

¶ 28 Leave a comment on paragraph 28 0 “Fee to Medical Men for Certificates.

¶ 29 Leave a comment on paragraph 29 0 “October 24, 1846.

¶ 30 Leave a comment on paragraph 30 0 “Clerk of Louth Union: Inquired whether any, and what, fee may be given to Medical Practitioners, for furnishing certificates, under the 9th and 10th Vic., o. xcvi., by order of the Board of Guardians; and if the Medical Practitioner is a Medical Officer of the union, and is directed by the Board to give such certificate, whether he will be entitled to any, and what, fee.

¶ 31 Leave a comment on paragraph 31 0 “ Answer: The 9th and 10th Vic., c. xcvi., is wholly silent on the subject of remuneration to the Medical Practitioners. If they originate the matter, which they apparently can do under the