24 



C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL 



fact often aids the physician materially. 

 A cas-e of salivation and acne was cured 

 when it was discovered that the urine 

 was full of iodides — a plain case of 

 iodism. 



Foreign matter in the form of acci- 

 dental additions may vary from pieces of 

 shirt to caterpillars. An annoyinsf and 

 common form of foreign matter in the 

 urine of women -is vaginal detritus which 

 should be removed by douching before 

 the sample is taken. Foreign matter 

 often vitiates the microscopical exam- 

 ination. 



Containers for urine need some con- 

 sideration. They should be washed and 

 a minimum of water left in them. The 

 kinds of containers that are chosen are 

 various. Women usually have an empty 

 pei'f ume bottle ; men frequently find the 

 whisky flask convenient. It is against 

 th-e law to use milk bottles, but neces- 

 sity knows no law. Old medicine bottles, 

 the pint can, thermos bottles, gallon cider 

 jugs, preserve jars, and in instances, 

 holy-water bottles have been pressed into 

 service. Of course, the form of con- 

 tainer has no effect upon results, but pre- 

 vious contents may. A maple syrup bot- 

 tle once caused a careless patient to do 

 some worrying over his supposed dia- 

 betes. 



Cases of falsification of samples vary 

 from the unconscious to the criminal. 

 An instance occurred in which cane sugar 

 was put into a husband's urine under the 

 mistaken idea that it was the same as 

 dextrose. It is alleged that the wife de- 

 sired a trip to Europe in order to take 

 her husband to Karlsbad. This was be- 

 fore the war, of course. 



A sample should be fresh in order to 

 avoid changes in the detritus due to the 

 osmotic action. If fresh samples can- 

 not be obtained, they must be preserved 

 as decomposition occurs so readily and 

 i;s so destructive. For general use, the 

 preservative likely to give most satisfac- 

 tory results is thymol, but this like all 

 other preservatives, has its objections. 

 Cold storage is not always advisable, par- 

 ticularly with concentrated urines that 

 precipitate sodium urate granules. 



Having thus made some destructive 

 observations, it is but right that some 

 constructive ones should follow in the 

 form of recommendations as to the 

 method of sampling. 



For general results, a sample before 

 retiring and one on rising give a simple 

 method for obtaining a fair index of the 

 patient's condition. Separate analyses 

 are advisable, but analysis of a mixture 

 of the two is good. This has the advant- 

 age of indicating the condition after a 

 day's work and after complete rest. The 

 time of sampling is most convenient and 

 the psychological eflfect is at a minimum. 



For specific results, more accurate 

 methods may be used but need not be 

 discussed in this article because of lack 

 of space. 



The importance of 'correct sampling 

 and the avoidance of errors due to 

 changes, whether natural or artificial, 

 cannot be over estimated. Judgment 

 and simple observation, coupled with 

 frank and tactful statements may save 

 years of valuable life. 



