URINE. 305 



treats of these different states under the heads Hydruria, 

 Anazoturia, and Azoturia. 



Hydruria, which is also known as diuresis, polyuresis, 

 and polydipsia, seems to be capable of continuing sometimes 

 for several years, without being accompanied by any other 

 morbid symptoms than a frequent desire to micturate, and an 

 insatiable thirst. Willis mentions several cases of the kind : 

 amongst others, that of an artisan 55 years of age, who from 

 his sixteenth year had upon an average drunk nearly two pails- 

 ful daily, and who, during the same period, passed on an 

 average thirty-four pounds of urine and one of faeces. The 

 urine was scarcely denser than pure water and contained no 

 sugar. 



A similar case is recorded of a woman aged 40 years, who 

 from her infancy experienced constant thirst, and an enormous 

 secretion of urine. She enjoyed good health, and was the mother 

 of several children. 



Becquerel observed a case of polydipsia or hydraria in a 

 servant girl aged 23 years. After recovering from an attack of 

 acute nephritis she lapsed into a state of anaemia, for which fer- 

 ruginous medicines were exhibited, but without success. A 

 continuous state of thirst then came on; so much so, in fact, 

 that she daily took five or six litres of fluid without allaying 

 the sensation. The urine was very pale and greenish, was rather 

 turbid from the presence of mucus, and had an acid reaction. 

 Its specific gravity was 1006, and about six pounds were ex- 

 creted in the course of the day. 

 Its composition was as follows : 



Water . . . 9897 



Solid constituents . . 10-3 



Urea . . .3-0 



Uric acid . . .0-2 



Fixed salts . . .3-6 



Extractive matters . . 3-7 



[I/Heretier 1 has published an analysis of urine very similar 

 in its character. The patient was a pregnant woman. She dis- 

 charged about ninety-five ounces daily, and the specific gravity 

 was 1009-4. 



1 Traite de Chim. pathol. p. 553. 



ii. 20 



