272 THE SECRETIONS: 



"We are unfortunately not possessed of any trustworthy in- 

 formation respecting the urine in Asiatic cholera. K. Herrmann 1 

 has communicated the following remarks. 



As no opportunity occurred for obtaining urine passed during 

 the more urgent stages of the disease, that which was first dis- 

 charged by a patient who was just getting over a severe attack 

 was analysed : it was yellowish, turbid, deposited no sediment, 

 had a neutral reaction, and by the application of appropriate 

 tests, the presence of phosphates, hydrochlorates, and ammonia- 

 compounds was indicated ; on the addition of nitric acid, crystals 

 of nitrate of urea were obtained ; but only small quantities of 

 all those substances were present. Its specific gravity was very 

 low, being only 1006. 



Wittstock 2 has likewise instituted some researches on the 

 urine which was passed immediately after an attack of cholera. 

 It had a specific gravity of 1008-5, was neutral, of a pale yellow 

 colour, but not perfectly transparent in consequence of micro- 

 scopic crystals (consisting, in all probability, of ammoniaco- 

 magnesian phosphate,) held in suspension. The sides of the 

 glass were also covered with minute glittering crystals, which 

 were supposed by Wittstock to consist of uric acid, but which, 

 in all probability, were composed of ammoniaco-magnesian 

 phosphate also. 3 



An interesting investigation regarding the urine in cholera 

 has also been made by Vogel. The urine was passed after the 

 most violent symptoms had abated : it was of a deep brownish- 

 yellow colour, was rather turbid, deposited no sediment, had a 

 specific gravity of 1008-0, and indicated a strong acid reaction. 

 The salts of lime and magnesia were entirely wanting, and the 

 quantity of chloride of sodium was very minute, while on the 

 other hand the sulphates were found in a larger proportion than 

 in normal urine. 



The existence of bile-pigment and of albumen was proved by 



1 PoggendorfFs Annalen, vol. 22, p. 176. 2 Cholera Archiv, vol. 1, p. 428 



3 It is by no means probable that urine, with so low a specific gravity, and espe. 

 cially when it is alkaline or neutral, should throw down a precipitate of uric acid ; a 

 sediment of urate of ammonia would be much more probable. The neutral state of 

 the urine would favour the separation of crystals of ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate, 

 as suggested in the text. 



