482 DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS. 



of a thick solution of gum . S abmitted to the test of bichloride 

 of mercury, it will yield a copious milky flocculent precipitate, 

 resembling white of egg ; and in some cases — not in all — 

 the albumen contained in it will coagulate on exposure of 

 the urine to heat : when this last test fails, I take it the 

 failure is attributable to the large quantity of water with 

 which the albumen is united. Its coagulation, however, 

 may still be effected by adding a little acetic acid, and after- 

 wards some prus'siate of potass. 



The adult p'eriod of life seems the time at which we 

 are to look for this disease. My patients were aged six, 

 seven, and eight years. 



Relapsc took place in one instance. The first attack, but 

 slight, happened in April 1839 ; the second, very severe, oc- 

 curred in March 184<0. 



During cold weather the disease has appeared. I have had 

 no case in summer. 



Pathology. — Dr. Blackall, many years ago, directed 

 the attention of the medical world to the albuminous condi- 

 tion of the urine in dropsy, regarding it as an indication of 

 inflammation and a guide to the practice of venesection. 

 But with respect to the same alteration in the urine occurring 

 as a sign of diseased kidneys, it would appear we are in- 

 debted to — 



Dr. Prout, who, in one of his Gulstonian Lectures^, thus 

 expresses himself on the subject : '* Albuminous Urine, or 

 that variety termed chylous uriife, I believe was first dis- 

 tinctly described by myself in my little work on urinary 

 diseases.^^ — The leading properties in this urine are, " that 

 in general it so nearly resembles chyle in all respects, as to 

 be scarcely distinguishable from it; that it occasionally 

 passes on the one hand into blood, and on the other into 

 lithate of ammonia ; that the chylous state is generally found 

 to be more marked two or three hours after eating, while in 

 the morning it is sometimes nearly absent ; lastly, that its 

 specific gravity little exceeds, and sometimes does not equal, 

 that of healthy urine ; so that, nnless the quantity of urine 

 ' These lectures are re-published in ' The Veterinarian ' for 1831. 



