THE URINE. 



795 



man it is very rare, and mostly observed after administration 

 of benzoic acid preparations, and sometimes also in diabetes. 

 (See Fig. 361). 



Cystine is a rare sediment, which sometimes produces concretions in the 

 bladder ; it consists of hexagonal, colorless plates, which in side view show 

 (one) perfect facet, and (two) imperfect neighboring edge-facets. It is readily 

 soluble in ammonia, which is one of the features distinguishing it from uric 

 acid. In certain families it is said to be of regular occurrence in the urine. 

 (See Fig. 361.) 



Tyrosine appears in the form of needle-shaped crystals, grouped in clusters 

 or sheaves, crossing at various angles. It is usually accompanied with 

 leucinc, which resembles flat, colored drops of fat of a large size, with delicate 

 radiating and concentric striations, but is insoluble in ether. These rare 

 sediments are observed in cirrhosis and yellow atrophy of the liver, and in 

 cases of phosphorus-poisoning. (See Fig. 361.) 



(5) Urate of ammonia is found in fresh urine only when 

 passed in a decomposed and markedly alkaline condition, such as 

 occurs in chronic catarrhal cystitis. In alkaline 



urine this is a very common sediment in con- 

 nection with triple and simple phosphates. It 

 appears as brown globules of varying sizes, 

 exhibiting faint concentric and radiating stria- 

 tions. The globules may appear single or in 

 clusters of several coalesced spheres, either 

 smooth or provided with thorny, sometimes 

 branching and curved offshoots the so-called 

 thorn-apple shape. (See Fig. 362.) 



(6) Triple phosphates (combined ammonium 

 and magnesium phosphates) appear as colorless, 

 highly refracting, rhomboidal crystals, varying 



greatly in size. If incompletely developed, they FJG 362 ._URATE 



represent thin plates or cross-like formations 



without facets. In normal urine they are found 



only in small quantity, but are considerably 



increased in chronic inflammatory processes, 



also in so-called rheumatic and arthritic diseases, and in osteitis. 



They easily dissolve by the addition of an acid. (See Fig. 363.) 



(7) Simple phosphates (calcium and magnesium phosphates) 

 appear in alkaline urine in the form of amorphous, highly refract- 

 ing granules, without color, and usually clustered together, occa- 

 sionally in a moss -like arrangement, or in the shape of rosettes , 

 composed of pointed spiculae, the points of which are united at 

 the center of the rosette, while each spicula may have a uniform 



OF AMMONIA. 



Dark brown globules. 

 Magnified 300 diame- 

 ters. 



