On the condition in which fats are absorbed from the intestine

In 1858 Dr. W. Marcel announced to this Society the discovery that bile possesses the remarkable property of dissolving to a clear solution large amounts of fatty acids, and mixtures of these, when heated above their melting points, and that, on cooling, these bodies are again thrown out as a fine precipitate or emulsion. We have repeated these experiments, and are able to confirm the accuracy of Marcet’s observation. Thus we found that 6 c. c. of dog’s bile at 62°C. dissolved completely 1·5 grams of the mixed fatty acids of beef suet, and similar solubilities were found in other cases.