114 Dr. Henry on Urinary Calculi. [Feb. 



In four instances only out of 187, the calculus has been com- 

 posed throughout of the earthy phosphates ; and in these I have 

 not been able to discover a nucleus of any other substance. I 

 consider the fact, therefore, as sufficiently established, that in some 

 instances, though comparatively very few, a tendency to secrete the 

 earthy phosphates in excess is a cause of the formation of stone, 

 first probably in the kidneys, and subsequently in the bladder. 

 This tendency indeed, as is well known, sometimes manifests 

 itself by the discharge of urinary gravel, consisting of the triple 

 phosphate either alone or in conjunction witli pliospliate of lime. 



Several years ago, the Rev. Mr. R. of Cheadle, in Stafford- 

 shire, consulted me respecting a train of very distressing symp- 

 toms, some of wliich evidently denoted considerable disease in 

 the kidneys. His urine, which at some times was perfectly 

 limpid, was at others loaded with a white substance, which gave 

 it, when first voided, the opacity of milk. On standing, a 

 copious deposit took place, a portion of which was sent to me 

 for examination. It was perfectly white, and so impalpable as to 

 resemble a chemical precipitate. On analysis, it proved to con- 

 fist of nearly equal parts of the triple phosphate and phosphate 

 of lime. The discharge of this powder was always preceded by 

 violent attacks of sickness and vomiting, and its quantity wag 

 invariably increased whenever he took soda water or any other 

 alkaline medicine. Beside the afl'ection of the kidneys, there 

 appeared to me to exist important disease of the chylopoietic 

 viscera, and to this I ascribe his death, which took place a fevr 

 months afterwards. In this case it was remarkable that the 

 weight of the body was reduced from 183 to 100 pounds at 

 rather an early stage of the disease, without a corresponding 

 degree of muscular emaciation, owing obviously to the imperfect 

 nutrition of the bones, in consequence of the waste of the phos- 

 phate of lime through the urinary passages. 



Mulberry Calculus. 



In calcuU of this description I have always found, %\ ith Dr. 

 Wollaston and jMr. Brande, an admixture of other substauces 

 with the oxalate of lime, which is to be considered as their 

 characteristic ingredient. One of the best marked specimens I 

 have ever seen of the rough kind afforded, from 10 gr. o-3 gr. of 

 carbonate of lime, equivalent to nearly 6-6 of oxalate, 1 gr. of 

 uric acid, 0-3 gr. of phosphate of lime, and a quantity of dark- 

 coloured floccuU of animal matter, which did not descend along 

 with the uric acid, when the latter was precipitated from its alka- 

 line solution. These flocculi were soluble again in pure potash, 

 but not in alcohol or in dilute acids. The colouring ingredient 

 of this variety of calculus is communicated both to caustic alka- 

 hes and to concentrated muriatic acid, thelatterof which becomes 

 tinged, like a strong infusion of roasted coffee. On diluting the 

 solution, part of the oxalate of lime is deposited, but the colour- 



