434 KEEPING DOWN WEIGHT. 



uric acid is also found in the urine, combined with sodium and 

 other bases. An average daily excretion of urea and uric acid 

 would be, respectively 500 grains and 8 grains. It appears 

 that uric acid is formed by the kidneys from urea. When the 

 functions of nutrition and excretion become disturbed in 

 certain ways, the urea in the blood becomes more or less 

 replaced by other nitrogenous compounds which produce 

 various distressing effects on the system, such as depression, 

 feverishness, and gout. The chief factors in the production 

 of an excess of these poisonous nitrogenous compounds in 

 the body are : consumption of too much nitrogenous food ; 

 want of exercise ; indigestion ; functional derangement of the 

 kidneys and liver ; deficiency in the supply of drinking water ; 

 and individual idiosyncrasy. 



Uric acid is so generally regarded as the chief poisonous 

 form assumed by waste nitrogenous matter in the system, that 

 a few remarks on its action may not be out of place. We 

 learn from the researches of many reliable authorities that 

 although urea is always present in healthy blood, uric acid is 

 not found in that fluid. The blood of persons suffering from 

 gout, on the contrary, always contains uric acid combined 

 with sodium. Dr. Luff in his very valuable book on The 

 Pathology and Treatment of Gout, shows that this disease is 

 due to deficient excretion of uric acid by the kidneys. It is 

 probable that in certain diseased conditions, uric acid is 

 formed not only by the kidneys, but also by other organs. 

 The uric acid which is thus passed into the blood, combines 

 with sodium carbonate of that fluid, and forms sodium 

 quadriurate, which is a very soluble compound. It would 

 doubtless be rapidly carried out of the system without doing 

 any harm, were it not for the fact that under ordinary con- 

 ditions, it becomes quickly converted into sodium biurate, 

 which is very sparingly soluble in blood, and consequently 

 becomes deposited in various parts. This precipitation of 



