12 MODE OF PRODUCTION 



the minute capillaries of the gland, these become 

 swollen and distended, and till they have time to 

 accommodate themselves to their contents a variable 

 decree of congestion, causing various kinds of eftu- 



o o J o 



sion, is necessarily produced. At first it is so 

 intense as to rupture some of the smaller vessels, and 

 thus cause the presence of blood in the secretion ; 

 as these enlarge, it diminishes so much in degree as 

 to be attended with only an albuminous exudation, 

 the relative proportion of albumen present in the 

 effused fluid gradually decreasing as the congestion 

 is removed, till it finally ceases to be recognisable 

 on the application of the same test (heat) for its 

 detection. 



Again, the saliva in health does not contain al- 

 bumen, at least its quantity is not sufficient to affect 

 the ordinary tests for its presence, but in that se- 

 creted during the congested state of the salivary 

 glands, which attends mercurial action, it has been 

 found always to exist; and here also, if the point 

 were investigated, the proportion of albumen would 

 doubtless be found to vary with the degree of that 

 congestion. 



From the consideration of all these circumstances, 

 I would venture to propose the adoption of the follow- 

 ing rule as adequate to the explanation of the cau.-c 

 of albuminous urine in nearly every case in which 

 it may be observed to occur, viz. 



That the presence of albumen in the urine is produced 

 In/, and its proportional quantity is in a direct ratio to 

 the degree of, congestion of the c<i/>illtiries of the kidney, 

 from whatsoever cause that congestion unit/ arise. 



