URINE. 307 



A case of the same nature was treated by Stosch. A man 

 who complained of pain in the cardiac region, thirst, and weak- 

 ness, passed from four to six quarts of urine daily; it contained 

 no sugar, and scarcely a trace of urea or of the other ordinary 

 constituents of urine. 



By the term azoturia Willis understands that form of disease 

 which is usually known as diabetes insipidus, in which the urine 

 is increased in quantity, is usually transparent and pale, but 

 sometimes deeply coloured, and is peculiarly distinguished by 

 the large amount of urea which it contains. The urine has a 

 slight, but at the same time an uriiious odour, an acid reaction, 

 and its specific gravity (1018 1035) is higher than in the pre- 

 ceding form of disease. When the density is considerable, 

 crystals of nitrate of urea are often yielded on the addition of 

 nitric acid, after a few hours' rest, without any previous concen- 

 tration. 



The general symptoms are the same as in the former varieties : 

 loss of strength, feeling of weakness, gnawing pains in the re- 

 gion of the heart, thirst, &c. An artisan thirty-seven years 

 of age, (treated by Willis,) contracted the disease in consequence 

 of a cold, and passed a large quantity of pale urine, amounting 

 to about five quarts daily. The specific gravity varied from 1022 

 to 1028. On the addition of nitric acid to the urine at its 

 highest degree of density, crystallization of nitrate of urea 

 occurred in a few hours. 1000 grains left, on evaporation, 

 72 of solid residue, of which 51 were composed of urea, alcohol- 

 extract, and salts soluble in alcohol; 14 were hydrochlorates 

 and sulphates ; 6 were earthy salts, especially phosphates ; and 

 1 grain consisted of mucus. Willis is of opinion that this form 

 of diabetes frequently precedes diabetes mellitus, or alternates 

 with albuminous or saccharine urine. 



[Dr. Golding Bird analysed the urine of a fine, but emaciated 

 man aged 35 years, who stated that his brother had died of 

 diabetes. The urine in twenty-four hours amounted to 50 

 fluid ounces, and had a specific gravity of 1030. 



The water amounted to . 20956 grains 



Solids . . . 1574 



Urea . . . 757'95 



Uric acid 6-75 



