INFECTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 269 



frequently with the relief of certain symptoms, such as 

 headache and dizziness. It is not clear that these 

 symptoms are due wholly to the excessive indol absorp- 

 tion. Unfortunately the relief is temporary and is 

 followed by a continuance of the original putrefactive 

 conditions and the resumption of indicanuria. Indeed, 

 in some persons constipation following catharsis is 

 associated with a still greater excess of indican in the 

 urine than has been habitual. The repeated use of 

 cathartics daily or at somewhat longer intervals for the 

 purpose of diminishing the absorption of toxic sub- 

 stances is inadvisable, for it ultimately leads to a loss 

 in weight and strength. It seems unnecessary to 

 further discuss here the subject of indicanuria, which 

 is, as a rule, linked with other intestinal conditions 

 requiring consideration and which therefore it is not 

 usually advisable to single out as the sole object of 

 treatment. 



THE POSSIBILITY OP THE OCCURRENCE OF INDOLEMIA 

 AND INDOLURIA 



It naturally occurs to any one who considers the 

 phenomenon of indicanuria and the conditions leading 

 to it that in extreme instances of this phenomenon, 

 where relatively large quantities of indol have to be 

 oxidized, and paired, these preparatory processes may 

 sometimes be insufficiently active to prevent the cir- 

 culation of indol in the blood in such concentration as 

 would lead to the appearance of free indol in the urine. 



