410 URINE. 



confervse and algae are then observed, in addition to the filamentous 

 fungi in the sediment and on the surface of the urine, when 

 examined under the microscope. The urine finally becomes 

 neutral, the yellow crystals of uric acid disappear, or in their place, 

 we find the well-known crystals of phosphate of magnesia and 

 ammonia, either in the form of large, colourless pyramidal prisms 

 or in small radiated groups of needles or larger prisms. The 

 urine becomes alkaline, acquires a most abominable odour, and is 

 covered with whitish grey membranes, which swarm with in- 

 numerable vibriones and monads, in addition to vegetable products. 

 The colour of the uric acid sediment is, with few exceptions, 

 yellow, like its microscopical crystals, but when the deposit is wliite* 

 it exhibits, not only the crystals of triple phosphate, infusoria and 

 fungi, but also the brownish black, round clusters of urate of 

 ammonia, studded on all sides with sharp needles. The urine 

 effervesces strongly with acids ; the fluid then scarcely exhibits 

 any yellow colour, the pigment being consequently for the 

 most part destroyed.. 



The alkaline urinary fermentation occurs, under certain par- 

 tially unexplained relations, even before the completion of the 

 acid fermentation, and sometimes even within the bladder. 

 Normal urine passes more or less rapidly into the alkaline fer- 

 mentation when the temperature exceeds 20 C.; this change is 

 effected very readily when the urine has been kept in unclean vessels, 

 and almost at once when mixed with urine which has become 

 alkaline, even when the quantity added is so small as hardly to 

 saturate the free acid of the fresh urine. We may, therefore, 

 conclude that here, as in other kinds of fermentation, there 

 is a special alkaline fermenting substance present, which, we 

 believe with Scherer, can only be sought in the changed urinary 

 mucus, and in the microscopical organisms contained in it. This 

 mode of explanation is not only in accordance with the views 

 which chemists now hold regarding the processes of fermentation, 

 but it is likewise further confirmed by certain results of clinical 

 experience. We have found that an alkaline urine which effer- 

 vesces with acids is most constantly and distinctly observable in 

 primary or secondary affections of the mucous membrane of the 

 bladder. In the former case there either exists inveterate vesical 

 catarrh or complete suppuration of the walls of the bladder in 

 consequence of cancerous tumours or other secondary products ; 

 in these cases the secretion of mucus is abnormal, the mucous 

 juice which is secreted in increased quantity, possessing none of 



