306 THE URINE. 



albumoses ; but, as in the case of casein, no hetero-group could be 

 demonstrated. These results I have confirmed, and it is thus con- 

 clusively established that the body cannot be an albumose. Pend- 

 ing further investigations, it is hence advisable to term the substance 

 the albumin of Bence Jones. Of its origin nothing definite is 

 known. The amount which is often found is so large that the con- 

 clusion suggests itself that the substance may be formed as the 

 result of a definite metabolic anomaly in the place of some one of 

 the normal albumins (possibly globulin). The presence of the sub- 

 stance may be suspected if a urine gives the usual albumose reac- 

 tion to a marked degree, as the disease in question is in reality the 

 only one in which larger amounts of an " albumose "-like body are 

 obtained. It can then be isolated by treating the neutralized urine 

 with double its volume of a saturated solution of ammonium sul- 

 phate. It coagulates at a relatively low temperature (50-55 C.), 

 and dissolves more or less completely before the boiling point is 

 reached, to reappear again on cooling. Bence Jones' albuminuria 

 is generally unaccompanied by common albuminuia. To identify 

 the substance, it is advisable to digest the body with pepsin, to 

 demonstrate the formation of proto-albumose, and to show that no 

 hetero-albumose is produced. 



Test for Fibrin. When fibrin is present in the urine, it usually 

 occurs ill the form of distinct clots, the nature of which is commonly 

 apparent without chemical examination. If it is to be identified in 

 this manner, however, the clots are washed with water until free 

 from blood-pigments. They are then placed in a 5 per cent, solu- 

 tion of sodium chloride containing an excess of thymol, to guard 

 against putrefactive changes. It will be observed that the substance 

 does not dissolve, while in a 0.3 per cent, solution of hydrochloric 

 acid it rapidly swells and is digested after the addition of a little 

 pepsin. 



Test for Histon. The twenty-four hours' urine is first freed 

 from coagulable albumins by boiling. It is then precipitated with 

 a large excess of 94 per cent, alcohol. The precipitate is washed 

 with hot alcohol and dissolved in boiling water. On cooling, the 

 solution is acidified with hydrochloric acid and allowed to stand for 

 a number of hours. Any uric acid that has separated out is 

 removed by filtration, when the filtrate is precipitated with ammonia. 

 The collected material is washed with ammoniacal water until 

 the washings no longer give the biuret reaction. It is then dissolved 

 in dilute acetic acid. If histon is present, the solution coagulates on 

 boiling and gives the biuret reaction. The coagulated material dis- 

 solves in mineral acids. 



Quantitative Estimation of the Coagulable Albumins. In 

 the clinical laboratory the so-called albuminimeters of Esbach are 

 conveniently employed for this purpose. The method is exceedingly 

 simple, and* gives results which are sufficiently accurate for ordinary 

 purposes, To this end, the tube is filled with urine to the mark U. 



