304 THE MICROSCOPIST. 



Sometimes albumen is due to the presence of blood, pus, 

 etc., as revealed by the microscope, and its significance 

 must be considered under these terms. Many acute febrile 

 diseases give rise to albuminuria, which may be regarded 

 as one feature of the general disturbance rather than of 

 local importance. 



After the primary fever of scarlatina, and occasionally 

 after small-pox, enteric fever, and erysipelas, albuminuria 

 is present. It is not infrequent in pregnancy and the 

 puerperal state, and though not necessarily, yet often in- 

 dicates possible danger of convulsions during labor, chronic 

 renal disease, etc. 



Chronic chest complaints are often complicated with 

 albuminuria, which has an important bearing on progno- 

 sis. In such cases it may be only one of the indications 

 of a temporary general venous congestion, or it may indi- 

 cate a nephritis established through long-continued con- 

 gestion, or the renal disease shown by the albuminuria 

 may be primary and the thoracic affection a complication. 

 In all dropsies the presence of albumen is important. 

 Genuine renal dropsy rarely occurs without it, yet it may 

 be secondary and due to pressure on the renal veins 



Albuminuria in acute or chronic renal disease must be 

 considered in connection with other urinary contents, as 

 tube-casts, epithelium, etc., and with alterations in quan- 

 tity, specific gravity, etc. 



The significance of albuminuria in nervous diseases is 

 variable. It may be an effect of nervous disturbance, as 

 after a convulsion or from some lesion of the brain, or the 

 renal disease may be the cause of the nervous affection, 

 as in urcemic coma or convulsions, etc. 



We must look for albumen in the urine in many chronic 

 and constitutional affections, and transiently after the use 

 of blisters, etc. Where there are so many sources of 

 albuminous urine we must be guided by the general 

 symptoms, and particularly the presence of microscopic 



