308 = Prof. E. D. Smith on Calculous Affections. 
1. “That where alkalies fail to relieve the increased se- 
cretion of uric acid and to prevent its forming calculi in the 
kidneys, or where they disagree with the stomach, magnesia 
is generally effectual; and that it may be persevered in for 
a considerable time, without inconvenience, where the ten- 
ency to form excess of urie acid remains. 
2. “ When the alkalies or magnesia are improperly con- 
tinued, after having relieved the symptoms connected with 
the formation of the red sand or uric acid, the urine ac- 
quires a tendency to deposit the white sand, consisting of the 
ammoniaco, magnesian phosphate and phosphate of lime. 
3. “The mineral acids (muriatic, sulphurie and nitric) 
diminish or entirely prevent the deposition of the phos- 
phates, but are apt to induce a return of the red gravel. 
. “That vegetable acids, especially the citric and tar- 
taric, are less liable to produce the last mentioned effects, 
even when taken in large doses for a long time ; and that 
carbonic acid is particularly useful in cases, where the irrita- 
ble state of the bladder prevents the exhibition of other 
Under this head perhaps it would be well to notice that, 
in some cases, the long continued use of magnesia in large 
doses seems to have produced bad effects, by occasioning a 
mechanical constipation of the bowels, (see Journal of Sci- 
ence and the Arts, No. 2 
4. As calculous complaints are maladies of such a griev- 
Ous nature, would it not be practicable to prevent them 
by an early and assiduous attention to diet, habits of life, 
&e.—and is it not probable that such attention would be effi- 
cacious, from the analogy between arthritic and calculous 
affections, as ascertained by Dr. Wollaston’s analysis of 
gouty concretions ? 
In cases of gout, even where accompanied with an he- 
reditary diathesis, it is well known that a rigid adherence to 
a particular plan will greatly mitigate, if not prevent, that 
disease; and analogical reasoning would infer the probable 
success of a similar practice in cases of calculus. 'To ac- 
quire the information that would be valuable here, it would’ 
be necessary to ve accurate accounts of the ages, em- 
‘ aie Yo ane 
oyments, diet and constitutions of those, who have been 
hown to be afflicted with calculous complaints. In a la 
valuable work on calculous disorders, Dr. Marcet, of Lon- 
