166 



UKIC ACID. 



the alkalis, as in the caustic alkalis themselves ; ammonia however 

 scarcely dissolves it, and in this respect it differs conveniently from 



FIG. 18. CRYSTALS OF URIC ACID. (After Funke.) 



cystin. It is fairly soluble in glycerin, and soluble to some extent in 

 solutions of lithium carbonate. 



Salts of Uric acid. Of these the most important are the acid 

 urates of sodium, potassium, and ammonium ; these salts are frequently 

 still called ' lithates,' the term ' lithic ' acid being used for .uric acid. 

 The sodium salt which is the most common constituent of many urinary 

 sediments crystallises in many different forms, these not being charac- 

 teristic, since they are almost the same for the corresponding compounds 

 of the other two bases. It is very sparingly soluble in cold water 



FIG. 19. (Krukenberg after Kiihne.) 

 Urinary sediment, showing chiefly the most usual form of crystals of acid sodium 



