460 URINE 



kidneys, and the urine appears concentrated, because the diminution 

 of the water of febrile urine is relatively more considerable that the 

 diminution of the solid constituents. 



The constant characters of such urine are the relative and 

 absolute diminution of the inorganic salts, and the obvious aug- 

 mentation of the uric acid or urates. The diminution of the salts 

 was always observed by Becquerel and Simon ; it was the latter 

 chemist who first discovered that the loss principally fell on the 

 the chloride of sodium. Even when febrile urine does not deposit 

 the ordinary sediment of urate of soda, it is always absolutely and 

 relatively richer in uric acid than other urine. The urea is 

 generally somewhat diminished, as Becquerel first demonstrated; 

 Simon holding the opposite view. The extractive matters are 

 usually somewhat increased. Lactic acid may very often be 

 detected with chemical certainty in urine of this nature. 



In contrast to febrile urine, Becquerel has distinguished an 

 anaemic urine. Such urine, which depends upon a deficiency of 

 blood, and occurs in various forms of debility, contains far less 

 urea and uric acid than normal urine : the diminution of the salts, 

 as compared with the quantity usually secreted, is inconsiderable ; 

 the salts are consequently increased in relation to the organic 

 matters ; moreover, the extractive matters only differ slightly from 

 the physiological average. This variety of urine is especially 

 observed after repeated venesections, and in chlorosis. 



If we endeavour to name and distinguish the constitution of 

 the urine in individual diseases, in accordance with the present 

 condition of pathology, and to collect and arrange the results of 

 the numerous investigations which have been made on this sub- 

 ject during the last twenty years, we are led to the unexpected 

 and discouraging conclusion, that all our knowledge regarding it 

 is alike incomplete and obscure. The innumerable analyses of 

 morbid urine have induced many physicians to believe that the 

 study of the character of the urine in diseases was the most 

 complete section of pathological chemistry, an error which has 

 been promulgated, whether consciously or unconsciously, even by 

 chemists. Where are we to seek the reason of a fact at once so 

 mortifying and discouraging to the pathological chemist ? In 

 reply, it may be answered, that there are several grounds on which 

 we might explain the want of success which has so frequently 

 attended the most earnest endeavours of numerous able inquirers. 

 It has already been frequently noticed, both here and elsewhere, 

 that the methods employed in these investigations were not of 



