264 THE SECRETIONS: 



Becquerel has made some interesting remarks on the influ- 

 ence of ferruginous preparations on the urine in chlorosis. 



In the majority of cases the iron is partially carried off by 

 the urine ; sometimes, without any apparent reason, it is absent 

 from urine in which it is found on the preceding and suc- 

 ceeding days. The quantity of iron thus carried off in the 

 urine of the same individual is subject to great variations ; 

 sometimes it can only be detected after the incineration of a 

 portion of evaporated urine, while, on other occasions, the simple 

 addition of a test is sufficient to indicate its presence. The iron 

 begins to pass off by the urine from the commencement of the 

 administration of the medicine, and it occurs in all the urine 

 that is emitted; so that there is no necessity for the system 

 to be saturated with it before any portion can pass off by the 

 kidneys ; as the assimilation of the iron is a very slow process, 

 large doses merely derange the digestive organs without being 

 of more service than smaller doses. 



[Herberger 1 analysed the urine of the chlorotic girl referred 

 to in Vol. I, p. 313, and his analyses indicate the simultaneous 

 diminution of the blood-corpuscles and urea. The urine was 

 analysed on three occasions before the use of iron, and twice 

 afterwards. 



3. 



1012 

 35 oz. 

 971-98 

 28-02 

 7-12 

 0-19 

 13-99 

 6-62 



Urine after the use of iron. 



1. 2. 



Water .... 940-16 938-70 



Solid constituents . . . 59-84 61-30 



Urea .... 26-84 27'36 



Uric acid . . . 0-94 0-96 



Extractive matters . . . 18-62 16-28 



Fixed salts . . 13-32 15-71 



1 Bnchner's Repertorimn, vol. 29. 



