2 MODE OF PKODVCTION 



difficulty caused by the unnatural existence of albu- 

 men in tins secretion. 



The one, perhaps most generally adopted, sup- 

 poses that this effect is the result of a peculiar 

 irritation of the kidney, induced by, or at least 

 connected with, the granular deposit in that organ. 

 No reason however is given why the same dis- 

 ordered state of the gland should not be produced 

 by other diseases affecting it ; and indeed the theory 

 seems refuted by the fact of the proportion of albu- 

 men in the urine being often diminished in the 

 advanced stages, when the granular deposit occupies 

 most of the organ, and any irritability of the kidney, 

 consequent on its presence, will be at a maximum. 

 "Whereas the contrary should occur were there any 

 fixed relation between the proportion of albumen in 

 the urine and the quantity of granular matter in the 

 renal substance. 



Another hypothesis, still more untenable, is that 

 the albumen cither supplies the place of urea, or is 

 a transposition of its elements. This idea falls at 

 once to the ground, as urea is known to be excreted 

 iq) to the very last stage ; and when death follows 

 suppression of urine it is found in the blood and 

 dropsical effusions : indeed its non-elimination seems 

 incompatible with life. The quantity of it dis- 

 charged from the system in the advanced stages of 

 the disease is said to be less than in health ; but 

 when speaking of the causes of the low specific 

 ravitv of the urine a reason for this occurrence 



G J 



will be suggested which is simple, and adequate to 



its explanation. 



