212 THE SECRETIONS: 



Delirium tremens. 



In delirium tremens the urine has more or less of the inflam- 

 matory type ; sometimes, however, it resembles normal urine in 

 its colour and reaction. In a man aged 40, who had a very 

 severe attack, Becquerel found the urine acid for the first five 

 days, with a mean specific gravity of 1017'2. It deposited a 

 sediment either spontaneously or on the addition of nitric acid. 

 In another man aged 40, who was also in the third stage of 

 phthisis, and died three days afterwards, the urine possessed the 

 characters of inflammation ; it had a specific gravity of 1021*8, 

 and deposited a sediment. 



Myelitis. 



In inflammation of the spinal cord the urine in many cases 

 is much the same as in inflammation of the brain; it is red, 

 acid, and sometimes thick and sedimentary. Becquerel, how- 

 ever, has observed cases of affections of the spinal cord in which 

 the urine was not much removed from the normal type. In 

 two persons aged 32 and 50 years respectively, who were suf- 

 fering from a slight degree of paralysis of the lower extremities, 

 the urine did not differ materially from the healthy secretion, 

 although it varied on different days ; it had an acid reaction, 

 and contained a little more mucus than healthy urine. 



In inflammatory affections of the brain, and still more in 

 those of the spinal cord, especially in chronic cases, the kidneys 

 and bladder sympathise in a high degree ; the latter is some- 

 times paralysed. The character of the urine then changes in a 

 very peculiar manner ; it loses its acid reaction, and its colour 

 becomes clearer; at the period of its excretion it is either slightly 

 acid or neutral, and in a very short time it becomes alkaline, in 

 consequence of the formation of carbonate of ammonia. 



When first discharged, the urine is clear, generally of a bright 

 yellow colour, and possesses rather an unpleasant odour. If 

 allowed to stand, a glistening pellicle often forms very quickly 

 on the surface, consisting partly of crystals of ammoniaco-mag- 

 nesian phosphate, and partly of amorphous phosphate of lime, 

 as may be seen by the microscope. The presence of ammonia 

 may also be recognized at once by the odour, and by test-paper. 

 After a time, the urine becomes turbid, and deposits a sediment 



