A Simple Method of Diagnosing Pregnancy. 127 



to Kiutsi's work on urine diagnosis 1 in which this passage of 

 specific enzymes through the kidney is made the basis of a 

 widespread method for the diagnosis of disease. 

 Kiutsi's method is as follows: 



"By filtering urin of a pregnant through animal charcoal, the 

 urin is clarified and protein and peptone taken off, i. e., let it be 

 filtered through animal charcoal several times until Biuret reaction 

 is no longer positive. Then 5 c.c. of so treated urin is put into a 

 test tube. Into it 0.1 gr. of Kiutsi's placenta is added and the 

 mixture is left for six hours or fourteen hours. After this the 

 entire liquid is filtered through a filter paper into another test 

 tube, and 2 c.c. of sodium hydroxid is added. After shaking the 

 contents a little, the test tube is held by the left hand in a slanting 

 position. With the right hand the copper sulphate solution is 

 taken in 1 c.c. pipette. On letting the copper sulphate solution 

 run down slowly by the inside of the tube, where two liquids 

 meet, a brilliant purple color may be formed. Then the reaction 

 is positive. But if no such coloration takes place, the reaction is 

 negative." 



Kiutsi claims to have "repeated this method hundred times, 

 and never missed," and says "By this method the early preg- 

 nance, the early abortion and the extra-uterus pregnance could 

 positively be detected, and its reliability put even myself to 

 astonishment." He also states that he has been able to diagnose 

 cancer, nephritis, tuberculosis of the lungs, renal glycosuria, and 

 other diseases by this method, using the proper substrate in 

 each case. 



Kiutsi, while indicating the broad outlines of this method, is 

 careful not to give any details regarding the preparation of his 

 dried substrates, and has avoided pointing out the precautions 

 which have to be taken to obtain uniform results. His paper is 

 remarkable, and that not alone from the importance of the funda- 

 mental observation and the naivete and quaintness of its diction. 

 Undoubtedly the combination of the claim to have discovered a 

 practically universal diagnostic method with what appears to be 

 a purposeful silence regarding the finer but essential details of 



1 M. Kiutsi, "Kiutsi's Urindiagnosis by Means of 'Filtration Process.'" June 

 10, 1914. Printed by Bunyeido, Sapporo (Japan). 



