H^IMOGLOBINURIA AND H^MATURIA. 193 



be precipitated by adding ether to the cooled alcohol. They 

 become crystalline on standing, or they can be tested for im- 

 mediately in the alcoholic filtrate with Pettenkofer's or other tests. 



ILEMOGLOBINURIA AND H^MATURIA. 



The haemoglobin is found in the urine in two forms: 

 first, dissolved, no corpuscles being present (haemoglobi- 

 nuria), and, second, in the corpuscles (haematuria). 



The color of urine which contains blood is usually 

 some shade of red, but may be dark brown or even greenish 

 brown when the hemoglobin has been changed to met- 

 hgemoglobin. Very small quantities may not be detected 

 by the eye. The liquid is often more or less cloudy from 

 corpuscles and casts. There may be enough blood present 

 to cause coagulation either in the urinary passages or after 

 the urine is passed. 



The free haemoglobin is produced by the destruction 

 of the corpuscles. This may be due to an injection of 

 substances which dissolve the corpuscles, to the trans- 

 fusion of blood, to the action of some poisons and in cer- 

 tain infectious diseases, like typhus, also after severe burns. 

 In this case the urine should be tested for haemoglobin. 

 If there is a sediment the microscope reveals no corpus- 

 cles. 



Haematuria, where corpuscles are present, is more 

 common. It is due to haemorrhage in some part of the 

 urinary tract. The corpuscles appear as a sediment and 

 are usually not in rolls. They may be shriveled or swollen 

 from standing in the urine. If the hasmorrhage is from 

 the kidney, the blood is usually well mixed with the urine 

 and of a reddish-brown color, the reaction being acid. 

 Blood-casts may be present, and if they are it is a proof 



