On Gravelly and Calculous Concretions. $§ 



Experiment V. 



To three ounces of the same kind of urine as in the pre- 

 ceding, was added one drachm of Unie water : the resuh the 

 same as in the former. Some precipitation in the standard, 

 as in the preceding experiment. 



When we consider the small proportion of lime kept in 

 solution in water, and that tiie lime water used in my ex- 

 periments was far from being recent, we must be astonished 

 at the minute quantity that proves sufficient to keep the uric 

 acid in solution : but this wonder ceases when we recollect 

 that the proportion of it in the above quantities of urine is 

 extremely small, and that it is scarcely acid ; as we may 

 learn from the controversy that took place between two such 

 able chemists as Pearson and Fourcroy on this subject. 

 Finding, then, our common lime water exerting such powers 

 in preventing the separation or crystallization of this sub- 

 stance, it occurred to me, that much more might be ex- 

 pected from barytic lime water, as containing a larger pro- 

 portion of saline matter in solution; and that, though, from 

 its poisonous effects in the carbonated state, the internal ex- 

 hibition would be hazardous, yet it might prove an useful 

 remedy when injected into the bladder. But how uncertain 

 are our apparently best founded theories when not deduced 

 from experiment ! 



Experiment VI, 

 To three ounces of urine was added one drachm of ba- 

 jytic lime water, which immediately seemed to decompose- 

 the whole, render it turbid, and give it the appearance of 

 the urina jicmejUoM; for reasons easily and satisfactorily 

 explained by Fourcroy, to whom I must refer. After twa 

 days I was surprised to find some small crystalline matter 

 adhering to the sides of the glass ; and, upon examining the 

 copious precipitate from this re-agent, I found it blended 

 with as much crystallized uric acid as appeared in the staiv- 

 dard, A repetition of this experiment, both since and at 

 that time, afforded tlie same results. Now the strength of 

 barytic lime water is, to that of the common, neariy as 13 

 to 1 ; the former keeping in solution, at the temperature 60 

 S degrees, 



