ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMBINATIONS. 757 



there have been numerous investigations, no amino-acids besides glycocoll could 

 be detected in normal human urine, while, on the contrary, in pathological con- 

 ditions other amino-acids have been found several times. The amino-acid frac- 

 tion of the urine seems to be increased in starvation and in high altitudes (LOEWY *). 

 The conclusions of various investigators 2 in regard to the behavior of amino- 

 acids in diseases such as gout, disagree. 



Non-dialyzable substances, the so-called adialyzdble bodies, or bodies that 

 dialyze with difficulty, also occur in the urine. They consist in part of chon- 

 droitin-sulphuric acid whose daily amount, according to PONS, is 0.08-0.09 gram, 

 and also of nucleic acid, mucoids, the colloidal nitrogenous bodies (see SALKOWSKI, 

 page 749) and unknown bodies. SASAKI found 0.218-0.68 gram of such bodies 

 per liter of normal urine, and EBBECKE found 1.44 grams in men. In pregnant 

 women SAVARE found somewhat higher results (0.6 gram per liter) than in non- 

 pregnant women (0.4 gram). The quantity is increased in fevers, in pneumonia 

 (EBBECKE), in nephritis, and especially in eclampsia, where SAVARE 3 indeed in 

 one case found 13.84 grams per liter. The adialyzable bodies occurring in eclampsia 

 are toxic. 



Organic combinations containing phosphorus such as glycerophosphoric acid, 

 phosphocarnic acid (ROCKWOOD), etc., which yield phosphoric acid on fusing with 

 saltpeter and caustic alkali, are also found in urine (LEPINE and EYMONNET, 

 OERTEL). With a total elimination of about 2.0 grams total P 2 5 , OERTEL found 

 on an average about 0.05 gram P 2 5 as phosphorus in organic combination. Accord- 

 ing to KONDO the quantity of organic phosphorus is increased by taking phos- 

 phatides and nucleins but not to the same extent as the quantity of phosphoric 

 acid. According to SYMMERS 4 the organic combined phosphorus may in many 

 pathological conditions be 25-50 per cent of the total phosphoric acid. In lym- 

 phatic leucaemia, and especially in degenerative diseases of the nervous system, 

 the quantity may increase. 



Enzymes of various kinds have been isolated from the urine. Among these 

 may be mentioned pepsin, diastatic enzyme and lipase. 5 



Mucin. The nubecula consists, as shown by K. M6RNER, 6 of a mucoid which 

 contains 12.74 per cent N and 2.3 per cent S. This mucoid, which apparently 

 originates in the urinary passages, may pass to a slight extent into solution in 

 the urine. In regard to the nature of the mucins and nucleoalbumins otherwise 

 occurring in the urine we refer the reader to the pathological constituents of the 

 urine. 



Ptomaines and leucomaines, or poisonous substances of an unknown kind, 

 which are often described as alkaloidal substances, occur in normal urine, as shown 

 by earlier investigations (POUCHET, BOUCHARD, ADUCCO and others 7 ) and also 

 by recent researches of KUTSCHER, LOHMANN and ENGELAND. The trimethyl- 



1 Deutsch. med. Wochenschr., 1905; see also Signorelli, Bioch. Zeitschr., 39. 



2 See Jastrowitz, Arch. f. exp. Path. u. Pharm., 59; Walker Hall, Bioch. Journ., 

 1; Brugsch and Schittenhelm, Zeitschr. f. exp. Path. u. Therap., 4. 



3 Pons, Hofmeister's Beitrage, 9; Sasaki, ibid., 9; Savard, ibid., 9 and 11; Ebbecke, 

 Bioch. Zeitschr., 13. 



4 Rockwood, Arch. f. (Anat. u.) Physiol., 1895; Oertel, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 

 26, which cites the other works. See also Keller, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 29; 

 Mandel and Oertel, N. Y. Univ. Bull. Med. Sciences, 1; and Maly's Jaljresber., 31; 

 Symmers, Journ. of Path, and Bact., 10. 



5 In regard to the literature on enzymes in the urine, see Huppert-Neubauer, 599. 

 In regard to trypsin in the urine see Johansson, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 85. 



6 Skand. Arch, f . Physiol., 6. 



7 A complete bibliography on the ptomaines and leucomaines of the urine is found 

 in Huppert-Neubauer, .403. 



