DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS. 



747 



Again, if the urine contain much urea, a precipitate is formed 

 when nitric acid is added; this is, however, dissolved if the 

 liquid be boiled, and the determining test for albumen is that it 

 is neither dissolved by heat nor nitric acid. The presence of 

 albumen in the urine is diagnostic of congestion, inflammation 

 or degeneration of the kidneys, or that condition of the system 

 already described under " Eed Water." Albumen is also present 

 in the urine in some cases of indigestion, and indicates that the 

 albumen of the serum is in a condition which renders it unfit 

 for the nutrition of tissues. 



The occurrence of oxalic acid in the urine has already been 

 referred to. — (See Oxaluria.) 



THE URINE. 



A study of the following table will at once give the reader 

 an idea of the condition of the urine in health. 



UEINE OF BULLOCK IN HEALTH. 



