and Laboratory Methods. 1353 



MEDICAL NOTES. 



Methods for the Detection of Sugar in Urine — Haine's Test. — This is 

 considered the best of the copper tests for sugar, and is made with the following 

 solution : 



Copper sulphate, - - - - - grs. 



Water, distilled, 3 c. c. 



Dissolve the CuSO^ thoroughly in the water and add, 



Glycerin, pure, - - - - - 3 c. c. 



which should be thoroughly mixed, after which add, 



Liquor potassse, .... 30 c. c. 



To make a test for sugar in a sample of urine, boil 1 dram (3.7 c. c.) of the 

 solution in a test tube, and add 2 or 3 drops of the urine ; continue to boil and 

 if, after a few seconds, no reaction occur, add '1 or 3 drops more, and so on until 

 8 drops are added, after which no more urine should be added. It is best to 

 use the least possible amount of urine that will produce the reaction. The solu- 

 tion should not be allowed to boil more than one-half minute. If sugar is present 

 in the urine, a yellow or yellowish-red precipitate forms. 



This test is simple in application, and is sufficiently reliable to be depended 

 upon in general practice. The solution is perfectly stable, and may be kept 

 indefinitely without deteriorating. 



Phenyl-Hydrazi7i Test. — This is an exceedingly delicate test, and is very desir- 

 able when the routine test, above, leaves any doubt as to the presence of sugar 

 in the urine. The test is performed by adding to 50 c. c. of the suspected urine, 

 '1 gms. of phenyl-hydrazin hydrochloride, 1.5 gm. of sodium acetate, and 20 c. c. 

 of distilled water. This solution should be heated moderately in a water bath 

 for an hour, after which, when cooled, if the smallest amount of sugar be present, 

 a yellowish crystalline precipitate is deposited. 



With the above methods the presence or absence of sugar in the urine may 

 be readily and conclusively ascertained. When sugar is detected, it is very im- 

 portant to determine the amount present. This may be accomplished with 

 accuracy by pursuing the following method : 



Purdy^s Method for the quantitative determination of sugar in urine. — Dissolve, 

 with gentle heat, .5 gm. pure cupric sulphate, and 3.8 c. c. glycerol in 20 c. c. 

 distilled water. With this mix a solution of 2.4 gms. potassium hydroxide in 

 20 c. c. distilled water, and add 35 c. c. strong ammonia. Make up to 100 c. c. with 

 distilled water. 



Place exactly 35 c. c. of this solution in a flask, dilute with an equal amount of 

 distilled water, and bring to boil. To this add slowly, drop by drop, the urine 

 to be tested until the solution loses its blue color and becomes perfectly colorless. 

 The amount of urine required contains exactly .02 gm. of sugar. If it takes 

 1 c. c. of urine, there is 2 per cent, of sugar ; if it takes \ c. c. of urine, there is 8 

 per cent, of sugar. c. w. j. 



