THE URINE. 421 



in the 24 hours). LE NOBEL claims that it only appears in healthy 

 urine after taking alcohol or after food rich in proteids. Acetone 

 as well as aceto-acetic acid seems to be a decomposition product of 

 the albumins, and acetonuria may be caused by food very rich in 

 proteids. 



In regard to the occurrence of these bodies under diseased con- 

 ditions, a great many observations have been made, especially by 

 v. JAKSCH, KAULICH, CANTANI, DEICHMULLER, FRERICHS, PEN- 

 ZOLDT, LE NOBEL, SEIFERT, GERHARDT, and others. Acetonuria 

 occurs in certain cases of diabetes, and especially in such patho- 

 logical processes as are accompanied by an increased destruction of 

 the tissues. It also occurs in fevers, in cachectic diseases, some- 

 times in cancer of the organs of digestion, also in inanition and in 

 psychosis. Acetonuria occurs especially often in children. 



Aceto-acetic acid never occurs in the urine as a physiological 

 constituent, but appears under the same circumstances as acetone. 

 It occurs frequently in children, in high fevers, acute exanthema, 

 etc. 



Acetone, dimethyl ketone, C 3 H 6 or CO.(OH 3 ) 2 , is a thin water- 

 olear liquid boiling at 56.5 C. and with a pleasant odor of fruit. 

 It is lighter than water, with which it mixes in all proportions, also 

 with alcohol and ether. The most important reactions for acetone 

 are the following : 



LIEBEN'S lodoform Test. When a watery solution of acetone is 

 treated with alkali and then with some iodine-potassium-iodide 

 solution and gently warmed a yellow precipitate of iodoform is 

 formed, which is known by its odor and by the appearance of the 

 crystals (six-sided plates or stars) under the microscope. This 

 reaction is very delicate, but it is not characteristic of acetone. 

 GUNNING'S modification of the iodoform test consists in using an 

 alcoholic solution of iodine and ammonia instead of the iodine dis- 

 solved in potassium iodide and alkali hydrate. In this case, besides 

 iodoform, a black precipitate of iodide of nitrogen is formed, but 

 this gradually disappears on standing, leaving the iodoform visible. 

 This modification has the advantage that it does not give any iodo- 

 form with alcohol. On the other hand, it is not quite so delicate, 

 but still it detects 0.01 milligramme acetone in 1 cc. 



REYNOLD'S mercuric-oxide test is based on the power of acetone 



