DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS 115 



potassium tartrate and bitartrate, sodium salicylate and lithium 

 carbonate. 



5. Mechanical diuretics, which promote the secretion of urine by- 

 flushing out the renal tubules, are: water, milk, and also the 

 organic acids, acetic, citric, tartaric, etc., which by their oxidation 

 increase the water content of the blood. 



Uses. — The diuretics are employed therapeutically for many 

 different purposes, the principal of which are the following: 



1. The resorption of fluid collections in the body in general 

 dropsy, ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, anasarca, cedemas 

 and hydrsemia; also fluid inflammatory exudates occurring in the 

 course of pleuritis, peritonitis, serous polyarthritis, pneumonia and 

 acute and chronic hydrocephalus. The diuretics employed in 

 these diseases, which bring about a decrease of the fluids of the 

 body, especially the blood, and thus cause a reabsorption of fluid 

 transudates and exudates, were formerly called hydragogue 

 diuretics. 



2. Flushing the renal tubules, the pelvis of the kidneys and 

 the bladder in nephritis, pyelitis and cystitis. In the course of 

 parenchymatous (catarrhal) nephritis, oliguria or even anuria 

 may result from the obstruction of the straight and convoluted 

 efferent renal tubules with urinary casts, desquamated epithelium, 

 fibrinous exudate or blood. These conditions may be overcome 

 by washing the obstructions out of the kidneys. Collections of 

 pus and masses of exudate in the pelvis of the kidneys and in the 

 bladder can be removed in the same manner. Irritant diuretics, 

 however, are to be avoided. 



3. The deriivation of blood to the kidneys when distant organs 

 are hypersemic or inflamed (brain, lungs, pleura, intestines, liver). 



4. Solution of urinary sediments in the pelves of the kidneys 

 and in the bladder. For this purpose, the alkahes are used. 

 They neutralize the uric acid and form urates of sodium, potas- 

 sium, calcium and lithium, which are soluble in water. 



5. The removal of bacteria, toxins, poisons and metabolic 

 products (uric acid in gout) from the body. 



6. To relieve the heart in cardiac diseases. By increasing the 



