312 THE URINE. 



Like the common blood-pigments, and hsematin, hsematoporphyrin 

 also reacts with Heller's test. To prove its presence, however, as 

 such, a spectroscopic examination is necessary. To this end, the 

 urine is precipitated with barium hydrate and barium chloride. 

 The precipitate is washed and allowed to stand in contact with 

 acidulated alcohol, which extracts the pigment. After filtering, 

 the solution is examined with the spectroscope ; if subsequently 

 the solution is rendered alkaline with ammonia, the spectrum of 

 hsematoporphyrin in alkaline solution is obtained. To isolate the 

 substance as such, the acid solution is mixed with a little chloro- 

 form and diluted with water. On gentle agitation the chloroform 

 takes up the greater portion of the hsematoporphyrin, while a 

 small fraction and other pigments remain in the diluted alcoholic 

 solution. On evaporating the chloroform extract the substance is 

 obtained in comparatively pure form. 



Neumeister states that besides hsematoporphyrin another deriva- 

 tive of the blood-pigment may be observed in cases of poisoning 

 with sulphonal, which, in contradistinction to the first, contains iron. 

 This does not react with Heller's test, however, while the color 

 of the urine is the same as in typical haBmatoporphyrinuria. The 

 pigment is precipitated by an alkaline barium chloride solution, 

 and can be subsequently dissolved in acid alcohol. This solution 

 presents a reddish-violet color, and shows one broad band of absorp- 

 tion in the blue portion of the spectrum immediately bordering on 

 the green. 



On rendering the solution alkaline with ammonia the pigment is 

 thrown down. On adding an excess of sodium hydrate solution, on 

 the other hand, it is dissolved, while the liquid assumes a yellow 

 color. This solution then shows a sharp, narrow line in the green, 

 near the blue portion of the spectrum, but disappears after the 

 solution has stood for some time. 



Urorubrohaematin and Urofuscohsematin. These pigments were 

 isolated by Baumstark from the urine of a leprosy patient, but have 

 not been encountered since. Their relation to haematin is apparent 

 from the formula? : 



C 32 H 32 N 4 O 4 Fe, hsematin (Nencki and Sieber). 

 C 34 H 35 N 4 O 5 Fe, hffimatin (Hoppe-Seyler). 



e, urorubrohsematin. 



urofuscohaematin. 



Whether or not any relation exists between these two bodies and 

 haematoporphyrin in impure form, as Hammarsten suggests, must 

 remain an open question. 



Melanins. Notably in association with the existence of melanotic 

 tumors, but at times also in other diseases which are associated with 

 an increased destruction of red blood-corpuscles, urines are met with 

 which gradually turn a dark brown or black on standing. When 



