260 THE SECRETIONS: 



The fixed salts consisted almost entirely of earthy phosphates 

 and sulphate of potash, there being a mere trace of chloride of 

 sodium. No albumen was present. 



2. In a youth aged 16 years, the urine, during the progress 

 of the disease, was of a brownish-yellow colour and turbid ; 

 and when an improvement manifested itself, the secretion 

 became of a lighter tint, and clearer. A sediment of ammo- 

 niaco-magnesian phosphate and urate of ammonia was depo- 

 sited during the disease, but gradually disappeared during con- 

 valescence. The urine had a faintly acid reaction, but, not- 

 withstanding, evolved a putrid odour, and very rapidly became 

 alkaline. The specific gravity was at first 1017, and subse- 

 quently varied from that number to 1012. Traces of albumen 

 could always be detected till symptoms of convalescence ap- 

 peared. In its chemical characters it resembled the preceding 

 case. The hydrochlorate of ammonia was much increased, 

 while the chloride of sodium was diminished to a mere trace. 

 The uric acid was much increased, amounting to 2 in 1000 

 parts. The urine remained abnormal for six days, and then 

 appeared to have resumed its ordinary character. 



Heller observes that the augmentation of the ammonia (in 

 the form of hydrochlorate) and of the uric acid, together with 

 the diminution of the chloride of sodium, characters seem- 

 ingly associated with this disease, indicate that the blood must 

 be in a state of dissolution. 



In Martin's 1 case, the secretion was very scanty, about one 

 or two ounces being passed at a time, and the daily amount 

 being from twelve to twenty ounces. In its physical characters 

 it resembled the urine described in the preceding cases. 



On evaporating the urine, and allowing the solid residue to 

 remain for some hours at a temperature of 212, there was re- 

 marked on the surface of the brown, and (for the most part) 

 saline mass, a copious, reticulated, dendritic efflorescence which, 

 when examined with a lens, was found to consist of long, traps- 

 parent, four-sided needles, with double-sided sharp extremities. 

 They were proved to be neither hydrochlorates, sulphates, or 

 phosphates, and were presumed to be crystals of hippuric acid. 

 Three analyses were instituted. 



1 Neue med.-chir. Zeit. 1845. 



