THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERS OF THE URINE. 



473 



.... 1000 

 .._10U 



.... mo 



.._1080 

 __J040 



\ 



present for a considerable time during sleep and the urine thus becomes in- 

 spissated. The most dilute urine is encountered after copious drinking (urina 

 potus). Hunger and laxatives diminish, while physical exertion increases, the 

 amount of solids in the urine. Among pathological conditions, highly concentrated 

 and copious urine, up to 10,000 cu. cm., is observed in cases of diabetes mellitus 

 (p. 313), when the specific gravity may be from 1030 to 1060. Concentrated, 

 scanty urine is encountered in the presence of fever. Simple, for instance, ner- 

 vous, polyuria is characterized by ex- 

 tremely dilute and copious urine, and the 

 specific gravity may be as low as 1001. 



The color of the urine exhibits 

 various gradations principally in 

 accordance with the amount of 

 water contained. Highly diluted 

 urine is likely to be pale yellow in 

 color. Urine of watery clearness 

 has even been observed in associa- 

 tion with sudden polyuria as, for 

 instance, the spastic urine of the 

 hysterical. Concentrated urine, 



particularly after a generous meal, lo > 



varies from dark yellow to brown- 

 ish red in color. Urine of similar 

 tint in association with fever is 

 commonly designated high-colored. 



Fetal urine, as well as that passed 

 immediately after birth, is as clear as 

 water. Admixture of blood gives rise, 

 in accordance with the degree of disinte- 

 gration of hemoglobin, to a color vary- 

 ing from red to deep brownish-red; bili- 

 ary pigment to a deep yellowish-brown 

 color, with an intense yellowish foam; 

 senna, taken by the mouth, causes the 

 urine to have a deep-red color, rhubarb 

 a brownish-yellow color, carbolic acid a 

 black color. Urine in a state of am- 

 moniacal decomposition may present a 

 dirty-blue appearance from the forma- 

 tion of indigo. For uniform estimation 

 of the color of the urine a urinary color- 

 scale has been devised empirically. 



The urine, especially if in a state of 

 ammoniacal decomposition, exhibits 

 fluorescence, which disappears on addi- 

 tion of acid, and reappears on addition of alkali. Normal urine precipitates in the 

 course of a few hours a cloud or nubecula of vesical mucus that settles slowly. 

 The froth of normal urine is white and it disappears rather quickly, though persist- 

 ing for a longer time when albumin is present. Not rarely the urine contains a 

 number of epithelial cells. 



Normal urine flows in a limpid stream like water. 



The presence of considerable amounts of sugar, albumin or mucus diminishes 

 its fluidity. So-called chylous urine from patients in the tropics may even present 

 a white, gelatinous appearance. 



The taste of urine is saline and bitter, the smell characteristically 

 aromatic, approximating that of beef-broth, particularly after the inges- 

 tion of roast meat. 



FIG. 143. Graduated 

 cylinder and Flask 

 for measuring the 

 Amount of Urine. 



FIG. 144. Urino meter. 



