18 
rROOEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 
[Biolog. 
organic and inorganic constituents. They were all performed upon healthy 
adult males. 
The quantity of urine was determined in cubic centimetres, and the weight 
of the solids in grammes. 
The method employed for the determination of the whole amount of solid 
matter was as follows : 
Ten cubic centimetres of the urine were evaporated to as complete dryness as 
possible m vacuo over sulphuric acid, and the residue accurately weighed. By 
simple proportion the amount of solids in the whole quantity of urine was 
easily ascertained. 
Although it is impossible to get rid of all the water by this process, the 
quantity remaining is extremely small, and the results obtained are far more 
accurate than those yielded by evaporating to dryness in the water bath as 
generally practised. No matter how carefully this latter method is conducted, 
the loss of urea by decomposition is always an importent item, and involves far 
more serious errors than the imperfect desiccation by the former process. 
For the determination of the amounts of organic and inorganic constituents 
separately, the solid residue obtained as above was mixed with ten or fifteen 
drops of moderately strong nitric acid, and gently heated till the mass was well 
dried. The heat was then gradually raised till all the carbon was consumed, 
and the mass in consequence became white. It was then cooled m vacuo over 
sulphuric acid and weighed. The inorganic matter wns thus determined and 
the loss showed the proportion of organic substance. 
Digitalis. — The subject of the experiments with this substance, was about 
twenty-five years of age and in good health. J'or the three days immediately 
preceding the commencement of the investigations the average quantity of urine 
daily excreted by him was 1474.5 cubic centimetres, the specific gravity was 
1024.30, and the average total amount of solid matter was 75.31 grammes of 
which 30.17 grammes were inorganic, and 45.14 organic constituents. The 
digitalis was given in the form of the officinal tincture in doses of 20 minims 
three times in 24 hours, and was continued for three consecutive days. During 
this period the manner of living (food, drink, exercise, &c.,) was as nearly as 
possible the same as during the preliminary investigations. 
1st day. The urine passed on this day was of a pale straw color and feeble 
iicid reaction ; quantity 1950 cubic centimetres; specific gravity 1013.25 j total 
solids 69.98 grammes, of which amount 31.27 were inorganic and 38.71 organic 
matter. The action of the digitalis was not manifested otherwise than by its 
efte.ct upon the urine. 
2nd day. The urine passed on this day was of similar physical character to 
that above mentioned. The quantity was 1873.6 centimetres, the specific 
gravity 1014.32, and the total solids 63.74 grammes. The inorganic solids 
amounted to 30.15 grammes, and the organic to 33.49. 
The pulse on this day was somewhat slower and fuller than on the previous 
day. 
3rd day. The quantity of urine evacuated on this day was 1624.9 cubic centi- 
metres, and of specific gravity 1020.04, The total amount of solid matter was 
67.29 grammes, of which 33.19 were inorganic and 34.10 organic. 
The color, reaction and odor of the urine were similar to those of the two 
previous days. 
The characteristic effects of the digitalis upon the action of the heart were 
well marked during this day. 
The effect of the digitalis in increasing the amount of urine is seen to have 
been greatest on the first day. On the second day it had fallen somewhat, and 
on the third was but 150 cubic centimetres greater than when no digitalis was 
taken. The solids, it is seen, were less than the normal standard from the com- 
mencement, were still further reduced on the second day, and on the third 
were slightly increased. This diminution is perceived to have been owing to 
the lessened amount of organic matter excreted. The inorganic substances 
were somewhat increased in amount over the ordinary proportion. 
[Nov. 
