269 



that experiment, as far as applicable, should form the'ba^ 

 sis of any opinions, offered in this essay. The phosphoric 

 being the native acid, prevalent in urine, it was interest- 

 ing to determine, whether, by the artificial super-addition 

 of it, so as to bring this fluid to the standard of the 

 gouty, we mig^it not produce effects, somewhat analogous 



to what occur there. 



Eighteen ounces of urine were divided into three equal 

 parts! To the first were added, five drops of phosphoric 

 acid; to the second, ten; and to the third, fifteen. In the 

 first, the magnifier very soon discovered minute floating 

 moleculje, gradually assuming the crystalline form, &c., as 

 so often before described. In the second, the same ap- 

 pearances, but more immediately and copiously produced. 

 But in the third, so considerable, as to excite my asto- 

 nishment. For here, besides the same extremely minute 

 crystals, which adhered, to the entire sides of the phial, 

 the bottom! appeared)t;dvered, with a mixture of crystal- 

 line, and red pulverulent matter: the latter in great pro- 

 portion, and, probably, prevented from crystallization, by 

 its hasty deposition. Here, then, that encreased propor- 

 tion of calcareous phosphat and animal gelatinous mat- 

 ters^.; (Mich always itaUes plaeeff*fi gout,i'aftWl;: could not 

 be expected ;Kerdj)viv>ould seem owly^wmttingi' to fiirnva 

 sort. of synthetic approximation to the gouty »w4din|ent. it 

 The unusual proportion of deposited uric add, in this 

 experiment, created some Suspicion, that' : the : phosphoric 

 acid might, by a! combination with somerasrf-tlie principles 

 11;. VOL. x. Mm ot 



