76 CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF ABNORMAL SECRETIONS. 



the pulse then increases in frequency, diminishes in 

 calibre, and becomes smaller, smaller, and smaller, 

 until it can no longer be felt, and the mirror, when 

 placed to the mouth, is no longer tarnished. 



The tongue and teeth are covered, at an early stage 

 of the disease, with a sooty crust ; the abdomen is 

 tender, particularly in the right hypochondriac region ; 

 and even when the patient is in a dreamy, comatose 

 condition, the application and pressure ofrthe hand over 

 that region is responded to by hippocratic distortion of 

 the features, and loud muttering complaints. The 

 boundaries of the normal dimensions of the liver 

 become less and less as the disease advances; whilst 

 that of the spleen is increased. The bowels are, as 

 a rule, confined, and the stools are firm, dry, p 

 clay-like, and deficient in bile, and at a later period are 

 of a dark tarry colour, indicating the presence of 

 ^ruinous blood. The secretion from the kidneys and 

 Madder is normal as to quantity, always of an 

 reaction; its specific gravity varies from 1012 to 10-4, 

 and holds in solution albumen, amorphous mucus, 

 epithelium, urinary casts, and a brown colouring matter, 

 which yields bile-pigment to the usual chemical tests; 

 but the most important constituents found in the urine 

 of those suffering from acute, as well as chronic Atrophy 

 of the Liver, and which may be considered as pa; 

 nomonic of the complaints conditions, likewise, which 

 hitherto have not been found in any other diseases 

 are large quantities of Leucine and Tyrosine, coupled 

 with the gradual disappearance of the urea and phos- 

 phate of lime. 



CHEMICALLY. Leucine is, when pure, a white, non- 



