i 9 6 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Urine Analysis by the Pharmacist. 



By George C. Diekman, Ph.G., M.D. 

 Introduction. 



The subject of urine analysis is recognized as one of great importance by both the 

 pharmacist and physician. The physician of to-day frequently calls upon the pharm- 

 acist, if he possesses the necessary knowledge of the subject, for aid and assistance, 

 while the pharmacist finds such knowledge a just and legitimate source of income, 

 which may be made a considerable one in time. Such will be the case as soon as the 

 pharmacist acquires the requisite knowledge and skill to carry out the necessary re- 

 actions, and makes it known among medical men that he is prepared to do such analy- 

 ses. It is certainly a field that should appeal to the pharmacist, as it is not likely to 

 be invaded by patent medicine dealers, department stores and the like. The limited 

 expenditure required for apparatus and chemicals not already within his reach make 

 it possible for the pharmacist of limited means to undertake such work. It is quite 

 unnecessary that the practitioner be acquainted with and be able to recite the multi- 

 tudinous tests, say for the detection of albumen, the numerous methods for estimation 

 of glucose, or the great number of methods employed quantitatively for estimation of 

 urea, uric acid, etc., etc. It should, on the contrary, be the aim of the operator to 

 thoroughly acquaint himself with a few tests or reagents for carrying out each reac- 

 tion, which, with practice, will usually yield excellent results. It should be noted here 

 that the results of single test or reaction applied to determine the presence of any one 

 constituent, normal or abnormal, should not be accepted as conclusive, but that an- 

 other test or reaction should be carried out with another reagent. Most of the best 

 text-books on urine analysis are written by medical men, and a study of them conveys 

 the idea that the subject is surrounded with many difficulties and that great scientific 

 accomplishments are required to successfully conduct such an analysis. One finds 

 arrayed a tabulated list of reagents and reactions for any given normal or abnormal con- 

 stituent, where several or at least only a limited number would have been quite ade- 

 quate. On the other hand, it must be just as strongly borne in mind that the subject 

 is not one which permits the application of uncertain methods or the loose applica- 

 tion of approved ones ; otherwise the results obtained will be not only valueless, but 

 very often misleading. The pharmacist should carefully refrain from any interpre- 

 tation of the results of an analysis of a given sample of urine, unless he possesses the 

 requisite medical knowledge and the necessary data regarding the history of the par- 

 ticular case, so that he may draw an intelligent conclusion. Too often the presence 

 of albumen or of sugar in a sample of urine are falsely interpreted as caused by the 

 existence of Bright's disease or of diabetus mellitus, when in reality the causes to 

 which their presence is due are only transitory ones. The physician should be al- 

 lowed to judge in these cases, as he is familiar with the history of each particular case, 

 and therefore competent to correctly interpret the results of an analysis. 



Often the physician desires to have the presence or absence of an abnormal con- 

 stituent established, without regard to the quantity present ; or he may desire to have 

 the quantity of a normal constituent estimated, as, for instance, chlorides, urea, etc., 

 etc. Many methods, of course, may be employed to establish the desired facts, but 

 it will be well for the pharmacist to accustom himself to certain methods. The con- 

 tinued application of an approved method soon establishes confidence and leads to 

 accurate results ; practice makes perfect, here as everywhere else. In order to get 

 the requisite practical experience, it is well to practice with artificial material where 

 other is wanting. Even in clinics and hospitals it is often impossible at all times to 

 obtain a sample of urine with certain pathological constituents. A few formula will 

 be given further on for preparation of artificial urine, viz., such as contains excessive 

 quantities of phosphate, urea, etc., or such as contains pathological material, viz., 

 albumen, glucose, etc., etc. 



In the following an attempt will be made to select only such methods as in general 

 will yield results free from misinterpretation, but which nevertheless may be carried 

 out readily and conveniently. For instance, under tests for detection of albumin the 

 method of coagulation by heat will be spoken of as most serviceable, and always re- 

 liable ; although it may be argued that the acetic acid and ferrocyanide method is the 



