1315.] the Urine conldins no Urea, 425 



dyspeptic stomach from hepatitis only, or on every case of dys- 

 pepsia, I have not yet satisfied myself; but 1 intend pursuing the 

 subject with that view. 



Unavoidably drawn by this discovery to turn my thoughts on the 

 nature of secretion and digestion, 1 have dared to indulge in specu'^ 

 lative ideas. That there subsists a great connexion between the 

 stomach and the kidneys, not merely sympathetic, and' that the 

 state of the urine depends very much upon tlie state of the digestive 

 organs, has long been observed ; but that tliere existed this decided 

 concatenation between the liver, stomach, and kidneys, was not, I 

 think, before known. As this concatenation is demonstrated by the 

 above circumstance, is it not probable that the kidneys have a 

 similar consent of action with all the chylopoetic viscera ? And is 

 it too sweeping a conclusion to draw, from our present knowledge 

 of secretion and digestion, if we say that it is probable in diabetes 

 mellitus the saccharine quality of the urine is dependent on the 

 morbid action of the stomach, and the absence of urea from the 

 urine on a deranged state of the hepatic function ? Or to suggest 

 the probability that some one or other of the proximate elements of 

 the urine is lost, or a new one added, by a morbid action of one of 

 the chylopoetic organs? For instance, what change in the urine 

 may aschirrhous pancreas produce? These inferences must not be 

 tolerated until more data are produced ; nor should I have hazarded 

 either of them, had I not some reason to believe, from the exami- 

 nation of tiie urine of two dyspeptic patients, that the want of urea 

 is observed in cases of hepatitis only. 



Might not the want of urea in the urine of persons attacked with 

 hydrocephalus, be a diagnostic mark between hydrocephalus idiopa' 

 thicus, and hydroccphalusyiwn alltred function of the liver? 



It is, I trust, the general opinion of the physiologists of the 

 present day that the kidneys are not merely separating but secreting 

 organs : and the absence of urea in hepatitis I consider as an addi- 

 tional fact in support of the latter opinion; for if that state of the 

 stomach consequent on a morbid action of the hepatitic system is 

 productive of a want of urea in the urine; and if urea has never 

 been found in the blood (wiiich it never has) ; must we not infer 

 that its elements are the products of digestion ; that they, in a 

 peculiar state of combination, arc presented to the cryptic of the 

 kidneys, where it is presumed the secretory power resides, and there 

 reconibined. I have communicated this fact, and my reflections on 

 it, to you, in its unexplored state, merely with the view to excite 

 an inquiry into, and an examination of the subject, by persons far 

 more equal to the task than myself. 



You may insert the following aUo, if you think it worth notice. 

 Perhaps to those of your medical rearlers who are but little versed in 

 chemical analysis, and not furnished with any chemical .ipparat-is, 

 and yet would be desirous of examining the urine in he|);ititis, not 

 only with the intent to |)ro5ecute the above inquiry, but also to assist 

 in cstabli:ihing tite di^goobis of that disease, u brief rclutiuu uf th» 



