712 DISEASES CONNECTED WITH THE KIDNEYS, ETC. 



the accompaniment of common and specific fevers. It is 

 highly probable that both these states, pyrexial accessions and 

 a toxic condition of the blood, are intimately associated with 

 phenomena much similar, the degraded or changmg plasmic 

 material in both instances finding its way into the blood. 



Wherever we encounter changed germinal matter which 

 ought to be removed from the system unduly retained, we find 

 a distinct tendency to systemic disturbance, the result pro- 

 bably more of loading the blood with hurtful material than of 

 any evil effects which such may exert directly on or through 

 the nervous system. This latter, which may exhibit aberra- 

 tions in pyrexial onsets, is often largely influenced, like other 

 tissues, through the universal pabulum, the blood. This 

 changed germinal matter, in whatever form separated, or how- 

 ever broken up on entering the blood, acts with particular 

 force on the capillary system of those organs by which it 

 ought naturally to be eliminated ; amongst these the kidneys 

 hold a prominent place. 



Nature of Information to be Gained by Observing the Urinary- 

 Secretion. — Seeing that in health so many circumstances and 

 changes alter the character of this secretion, it is very difficult 

 accurately to determine what ought to be styled diseased as. 

 distinct from normal — how much we should place to some 

 peculiarity or variation in physiological action which can 

 scarcely be termed diseased, and how much belongs to pro- 

 cesses truly morbid. 



The functions of digestion, respiration, and circulation all 

 materially affect the production in amount and quality of the 

 matter thrown off by the kidneys, while the state of the secre- 

 tion of the skin in particular, as also of the liver, if not so 

 directly connected with the production, are not less closely 

 related to and influence the quality or character of the 

 secretion. 



Besides deviations from normal character in the kidneys 

 themselves, and in the extensive mucous tract of the rather 

 complicated urinary passage, we arc aware that many disturb- 

 ances and changes in distant parts of the body have an inti- 

 mate connection with the character of the urinary secretion. 

 By a careful examination of the urine, chemically and opti- 

 cally, we may not unfrequently be able to diagnose particular 



