226 ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY 



body becomes rapidly poisoned by the accumulation of urea 

 in the blood. 



Blight's Disease is a name which really covers a number of 

 different diseases but they are ail characterized by an inter- 

 ference with the power of the kidneys to excrete urea and 

 other wastes. One of the earliest symptoms is usually the 

 appearance of considerable albumen in the urine. In a 

 healthy condition the urine contains no albumen and its 

 appearance is always an indication of faulty metabolism. 

 Although Bright's disease is dangerous, recovery from certain 

 forms of it is frequent. 



Kidney Stones. In another disease of the excretory organs, 

 hard, little nodules, called kidney stones or calculi, form in the 

 pelvis of the kidney and pass down into the bladder. They 

 are apt to cause severe pains as they go through the ureters 

 and sometimes cause alarming symptoms. Usually, if prop- 

 erly treated, they do not produce much trouble, and some- 

 times they pass away with the urine. In some severe 

 cases, however, a surgical operation is necessary for their 

 removal. 



Diabetes is the name given to a disease in which sugar 

 appears in the urine, the normal urine containing none. It 

 is not, however, a disease of the kidneys, although the trouble 

 is detected in the secretion from these organs. It is due 

 rather to improper nutritive processes in the body, although 

 the exact seat of the trouble has not yet been determined. 

 An individual suffering from this disease is unable to assimi- 

 late his foods properly and there seems to be especial dif- 

 ficulty in the assimilation of sugar. This results in an 

 excessive amount of such material in the system and the 

 kidneys are obliged to excrete it. Diabetes is a very serious 

 disease, and recovery from it is rare. 



Jaundice is a term used to denote symptoms of some 

 derangement of the liver, because of which it is failing to 

 carry on its proper functions in connection with excretion. 



