UBMMIA. 265 



segment surrounded by an indigo-blue ring ; and if the test-tube is 

 agitated, the whole solution becomes a light blue opaque fluid 

 (Fig. 60). 



The hsemin-test consists of drying a large drop of urine in a 

 small saucer, and with the dry mass we mix a small quantity of 

 finely pulverized chloride of sodium, placing it on a plate. Then 

 add two drops of cold glacial acetic acid. Now slowly heat the 

 cup over an alcohol-lamp and allow it to cool. As it does so, 

 you will see a quantity of dark-brown crystals. If these are not 

 easily distinguished by the eye, they are with a magnifying glass. 

 While we cannot distinguish the presence of the coloring matter 

 of the blood in the urine with the aid of the microscope, we may 

 detect the presence of blood-corpuscles in the fluid. We may also 

 find by this means uric casts and epithelium of the kidneys, and 

 small red granulations. These may be considered hsemoglobin. 



The therapeutic treatment of hsemoglobinuria consists of the use 

 of various diuretics, and an attempt must be made, as soon as pos- 

 sible, to remove the coloring matter from the blood and the kidneys. 



Uraemia. 



As a consequence of disease and impaired activity of the kid- 

 neys certain substances that should be thrown out in the urine 

 remain in the blood, also the watery excretions of the body, pro- 

 ducing a condition known as "uraemia." Certain experiments have 

 been made on the dog to produce these ursemic symptoms artifi- 

 cially — for instance, when both kidneys are removed or the ureters 

 ligated. Voit observed that when healthy animals were fed on 

 food containing uric acid, and at the same time deprived of water, 

 these conditions produced the disease. Grehant and Quinquaud 

 produced death in dogs when urea was injected into them subcu- 

 taneously to the amount of 1 per cent, of the whole weight of the 

 body. This produces convulsions, apparently from suppression 

 of respiration. Feltz and Ritter produced ursemic symptoms in 

 the dog with injections of salts of ammonium. It is of practical 

 interest to know that uraemia may also occur in acute nephritis, in 

 cases of enlargement of the prostate and obstruction of the pas- 

 sage of urine, or from uric stones filling up the urethra or the 

 neck of the bladder. 



