EFFECTS OF MAGNESIA OK URIC ACID. iSlQ 



After a farther continuance of the use of the tnaErnesia for 

 thrte weeks, the orine was often much loaded with uric 

 acid and mucus ; but these appearances, which hefore the 

 use of the magnesia were constant, are now only occasional^ 

 so that the disposition to form a redundant quantity of uric 

 acid id much diminished: it is also deserving of remark, 

 that there has not been the slightest symptom of gout from 

 the time of the last attack, which is more than a year back, 

 a longer interval of ease, than this patient has experienced 

 for the lai^t six years. 



He has now omitted the regular use of the magnesia, but 

 on i>erceiving any unpleasant sensation in the stomach, fee 

 returns to it for a week or ten days, and then again leaves it 

 off. 



From the preceding cases it appears, that the effects of Remarks, 

 magnesia taken into the stomach are in many respects dif- 

 ferent from those produced by the alkalis in those patients 

 in whom there is a disposition to form a superabundant 

 quantity of uric acid. 



With a view to ascertain their comparative effects on 

 healthy urine, when taken unde/ the same circumstances, 

 the following experiments were made. 



Experiment 1. On Soda, 



Two drachms of subcavbonate of soda were taken on an Action ofiub- 

 empty stomach at nine o'clock in the morning, dissolved in carbonate of 

 three ounces of water, and immediately afterward a large urine. 

 cup of warm tea. 



In six minutes, about one ounce of urine was voided} in * 

 twenty minutes six ounces more; and after two hours, a 

 siiuilar quantity. 



The first portion became very turbid, within ten minutes 

 after it had been voided, and deposited a copious sediment 

 of the phosphates, in consequence of the action of the alkali *• 



upon the urine. It slightly restored the blue colour to 

 litmus paper reddened with vinegar: the alkali therefore 

 was not merely in sufficient quantity to saturate the un- 

 combined acid in the uriue, and consequently to throw 

 down the phosphates, but it was in excess, and the urin<p 

 was voided alkaline. -^ 



Vol, XXVIII. Feb. 1811. K The 



