82 ADDISON^ ON BLOOD-CORPUSCLES. 



changed or interfered witli by substances in solution in the 

 liqaor sanguinis, and also by substances in solution in the 

 air ; and that the liquor sanguinis may liave its properties 

 altered l)y substances taken into the stomach, also by matter 

 "which may be discharged into it from the corpuscles. 



Bearing upon the relations subsisting between the liquor 

 sanguinis and the corpuscles of the blood, an interesting 

 example of malformation or irregularity of structure in point 

 has been narrated by Mr. Erichson, and we ground our argu- 

 ment in part upon the results of his experiments. 



Thomas Furley, aged thirteen years, an intelligent but 

 sickly-looking lad, has been atilicted Avith extroversion of the 

 bladder from birth. The inner surface of the posterior 

 aspect of the bladder protrudes through an opening in the 

 abdominal Avall, and forms a tumour the size of half an 

 orange. At the imdcr surface of this tumour are the orifices 

 of the ureters. " I eagerly seized this opportunity," says 

 Mr. Erichson, •' of making some observations and experi- 

 ments respecting the length of time tliat elapses between 

 the introduction of different substances into the stomach 

 and their appearance in the urine. The substances experi- 

 mented with Averc the yelloAV ferroeyanuret or prussiate of 

 potass, infusion of galls, of rhubarb, of madder, of uva ursi, and 

 decoction of logwood ; the citrates of soda and potass, tartrate 

 of soda and acetate of potass.'^ 



The experiments with prussiate of potass, galls, and uva 

 ursi were performed, by receiviug the drops of urine, as they 

 fell from the ureter, into a glass containing a solution of per- 

 sulphate of iron ; those "with rhubarb, by receiA ing the Urine 

 into a dilute solution of potass ; and those Avith the citrates, 

 tartrates, and acetates of potass and soda, by testing the urine 

 Avith litmus or turmeric paper. 



Ten experiments Avere made Avith prussiate of potass, the 

 quantity taken at a time varying from 20 to 40 grains. The 

 period Avhich elapsed betAveen taking the salt and its appear- 

 ance in the urine depended upon the state of the stomach ; 

 Avhen no food had been taken for some hours, the salt could 

 be detected in the urine in two minutes after it had been 

 sw^alloAved: A\diereas Avhen it was taken shortly after a meal, 

 it required from six to forty minutes for its passage from the 

 stomach into the urine. The time required for the vegetable 

 substances to make their appearance in the urine varied from 

 sixteen to thirty-nine minutes. The citrates and tartrates 

 of soda and potass made the urine alkaline in from tAventy- 

 eight to forty minutes, and greatly increased its flow.'*' 



* 'Loudou Medical Gazette,' vol. i, 1845, p. 363- 



