URINARY APPARATUS. 183 



The organic acid salts of lime which are contained in the food 

 contain the acid radicles of malic, tartaric, succinic and lactic 

 acids. These latter, upon being absorbed into the blood, be- 

 come oxydized into acid carbonates which have an alkaline 

 reaction. 



In carnivora acid phosphates are the cause of the 

 acid reaction; P0 4 H,Na and P0 4 H 2 Ca; these come from 

 the animal diet. Starving herbivora (hence such as live on 

 their own flesh) have an acid urine. 



Except in cases like the one just mentioned an acid reac- 

 tion of the urine of herbivora is always abnormal. It occurs 

 when the contents of the small intestine have an acid reaction 

 —intestinal catarrh. When the contents of the small intes- 

 tine have a normal (alkaline) reaction the acid phosphates 

 in the food are not absorbed, and consequently do not enter 

 the circulation, but when the reaction is acid the opposite 

 takes place, the acid phosphates are absorbed and excreted 

 by the kidneys, but the organic acid salts are not absorbed. 

 An acid reaction, therefore, depends on the presence of acid 

 phosphates and, in case of herbivora with good appetite, 

 points to the existence of intestinal catarrh. 



Abnormal alkaline reaction of the urine of 

 herbivora and carnivora occurs in the course of fermenta- 

 tions in the bladder (catarrh) and is produced by ammonia, 

 which is a product of fermented urea: CO(NH 2 ), + 

 2H 2 = CO s (NHJ 3 = 2NH 3 + CO, + H,0. 

 This ammoniacal fermentation can be recognized by its odor. 

 A glass rod dipped in hydrochloric acid and held above 

 the surface of the urine causes fumes to appear : NH 4 C1 

 = ammonium chloride. 



b. Albumin. Serumalbumin associated with serum- 

 globulin is the usual form in which albumen occurs in urine. 

 Albumoses, i. e., albuminous bodies not precipitated by boil- 

 ing, may be found alone or in connection with the above, but 

 are of rarer occurrence. (Pepton, propepton, hemialbumose) . 



