267 



of the body, was sufficiently soluble, when assisted by its 

 temperature. Nay, even for wise purposes, it has given a 

 degree of latitude to this temperature, whicli, though nar- 

 row and confined indeed, is sufficient for its purposes: but 

 where it precisely terminates I am not at present prepared 

 to say, though so easily determined. 



Let us now, for a moment, consider how far any morbid 

 deviation, from this healthy standard, (which sometimes 

 happens,) may throw light on this subject. The most con- 

 siderable, that I am acquainted with, occurs in the in- 

 stance of gouty urine, rendered towards the decline of 

 the paroxism. A single drop of this, though in a turbid 

 state, affects the A'egetable blues, with an energy, equal, 

 or, perhaps, superior, to that of the sti'ougest acetous acid ; 

 and requires a very considerable increased proportion of 

 lime-water to decompose it. for obvious reasons. This Ave 

 find always depositing, sometimes from the bladder itself, 

 but, generally, before it has entirely parted with its natu- 

 ral tempei'ature, a very large proportion of a reddish brick- 

 dust like sediment, (a welcome harbinger to gouty patients,) 

 gradually declining, and keeping pace with tlie alleviation 

 of symptoms, and the progressive return of the urine to its 

 natural degree of acidity. This sediipent, Scheele, Berg- 

 man, and Fourcroy, consider of the uric acid kind : and 

 so it (but in part only) undoubtedly is; being in a smaller 

 proportion than they were aware of. For, considering that 

 the enormous quantity, rendered in a few days, was in- 

 compatible with the known minute proportion of this acid 

 ,.,{! matter 



