218 THE SECRETIONS: 



it was composed of ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate. Hence 

 it follows that the white precipitate which I at first mistook 

 for casein, consisted of uric acid combined with ammonia, which 

 existed dissolved in the urine to an unprecedented amount. 



[Heller 1 has recorded a singular case in which the urine emitted 

 an odour of hydrosulphate of ammonia, and deposited a sedi- 

 ment of urate of soda, during this disease. 



The patient was a boy aged 14 years, with pneumonia of the 

 right lung. The peculiar odour of the urine was first observed 

 on the tenth day of the disease. The secretion on that day 

 was copious, of a light-yellow colour, very turbid, and deposited 

 an abundant clay-colour sediment. This sediment when ex- 

 amined under the microscope was 'found to consist of clear and 

 beautifully defined large globules studded with numerous spines, 

 mixed with smaller star-like objects of the same form. (See 

 fig. 29 a.) There were also a few epithelium-scales and mucus- 

 corpuscles. The urine had a strongly alkaline reaction : its 

 specific gravity was 1018. 



Heller noticed the following reactions : 



1 . Acetate of lead produced at once a very dark brown colour, 

 and, finally, a blackish-brown precipitate of sulphuret of lead. 



2. Perchloride of iron (which seems to be the best test for 

 sulphuretted hydrogen in urine, since pure sulphuret of iron is 

 thrown down, while the precipitate, caused by the former test, 

 contains the chloride, &c.) rendered the secretion almost black. 



3. Nitrate of silver showed that the chlorides were in great 

 excess. 



4. Nitrate of baryta indicated an abundance of sulphates. 



5. Ammonia showed that the earthy phosphates were normal. 



6. Nitric acid and heat indicated the existence of traces of 

 albumen. 



The urine contained in 1000 parts : 



Water and hydrosulphate of ammonia . . . 951-98 



Solid constituents ..... 48-02 



Urea ...... 12-21 



Free uric acid . . . . .no trace 



Albumen ..... traces 



Urate of soda (in the sediment) . . . 1-80 

 Extractive matters, with a large amount of hydrochlorate and 



carbonate of ammonia .... 27*40 



Fixed salts ..... 6-61 



1 Archivfur physiolog. und patholog. Cheinie, vol. 1, 24. 



