vii KATABOLIC CONSTITUENTS OF UKINE 401 



of Gaglio, delayed circulation is a condition favourable to the 

 formation of oxalic acid. In fact, if a frog is immobilised by 

 curare (Vulpian) or other means (Gaglio), calcium oxalate appears 

 in the urine. Any artificial diminution of the oxidative processes, 

 again, promotes formation of oxalic acid. In dogs Keale and 

 Boeri observed this on obstructing the respiration; Terray on 

 diminishing by half the oxygen of the inspired air. In pathological 

 conditions oxaluria has been observed in fevers, in illnesses accom- 

 panied with serious respiratory disturbances, or grave depressions 

 of the nervous system, and above all when general metabolism is 

 sluggish. 



Increase of oxalic acid is often associated with increase of uric 

 acid. With artificial introduction of uric acid and urates, again, 

 Wohler and Frerichs succeeded in obtaining an increase of calcium 

 oxalate in the urine. Since uric acid splits under the action of 

 ozone into urea, oxalic acid and allantoin (Gorup-Besanez), it is 

 not improbable that a similar decomposition takes place in the 

 body. 



Lactic acid was formerly regarded as one of the normal con- 

 stituents of urine (Berzeli us) ; later on, this theory was held to be 

 fallacious (Liebig). Recent observations of Hess, however, make 

 it probable that a trace of lactic acid is normally present in the 

 urine. Spiro's researches show that after hard muscular work the 

 amount of lactic acid combined with bases increases conspicuously 

 in the urine. This fact was confirmed by Colasanti and Moscatelli, 

 who found a large amount of paralactic acid in the urine of 

 soldiers after a 24 kilometres march. The same phenomenon was 

 subsequently confirmed by Vicarelli in the urine of women in 

 childbirth, after a difficult delivery. 



Lactic acid appears as a consequence of various intoxications ; 

 in poisoning by phosphorus (Schultzen and Eiess), carbonic oxide 

 (Miinzer and Palma), curare, morphine, cocaine, amyl nitrite, 

 veratrine (Araki), and, generally speaking, under all conditions 

 which, by obstructing the respiratory gas exchanges, weaken the 

 processes of oxidation. After extirpation of the liver in geese, 

 Minkowski noted lactic acid in the urine. The same was con- 

 firmed by Nebelthan for frogs. Zillessen evoked the same 

 phenomenon in dogs, by simple Legation of the hepatic artery, 



Taken as a whole, these facts make it probable that the 

 formation of lactic acid is associated with a deficit or check in the 

 oxidative processes in the body. 



Normal urine further contains small quantities of volatile 

 fatty acids, specially acetic, formic, propionic, and butyric acid 

 (v. Jaksch). According to Jaksch the daily amount of these does 

 not exceed 8-9 mgrms., but it increases to a marked extent on 

 a farinaceous diet, and in pathological conditions, in fevers in 

 general, in certain hepatic diseases, in diabetes. In all probability 



VOL. ii 2 D 



