Dept.] 
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
19 
Juniper. — The experiments with this substance were conducted on a healthy 
man thirty-five years of age. The average condition of his urine for the three 
days immediately preceding the investigations was as follows : quantity 1237.5 
cubic centimetres, specific gravity 1022.50; total solids 61.23 grammes, of which 
23.12 were inorganic and 38.11 organic matter. It was of ordinary color and 
odor, and of strong acid reaction. 
Sixteen ounces of the officinal infusion of the berries of the Juniperus commu- 
nis were taken during the twenty-four hours, and the manner of living kept as 
nearly as possible to correspond with that of the preliminary experiments. 
1st day. For this day the quantity of urine amounted to 1732 cubic centi- 
metres, the specific gravity of which was 1016.38; the total solids were 62.75 
grammes ; of this amount 25.43 grammes were inorganic, and 37.32 organic 
constituents. 
The urine was of a pale straw color and gave off" the characteristic odor pro- 
duced by juniper. The reaction was feebly acid. 
2d day. The quantity of urine passed on this day was 1885.2 cubic centime- 
tres. The specific gravity was 1014.15, and the total solids 58.49 grammes, 
22.17 of which were inorganic, and 36.22 organic matter. The physical cha- 
racteristics were similar to those of the day before. The reaction was barely 
acid. 
3d day. On this day the quantity of urine was 1672.5 cubic centimetres, with 
a specific gravity of 1018.41. The total solids amounted to 63.27 grammes, of 
which 27.50 were inorganic and 35.73 organic matter. The physical charac- 
teristics and reaction were the same as on the previous day. 
From these experiments it is seen that whilst the quantity of urine was materi- 
ally increased by the juniper, the amount of solid matter, as a whole, was but 
slightly affected, the loss in organic matter being about compensated for by the 
increase in the inorganic. 
Squill.— -The experiments with this substance were instituted upon myself, 
and were conducted upon the same general principles as the foregoing series. 
The average daily quantity of urine, for the three days preceding the investiga- 
tions, was 1358 cubic centimetres. The specific gravity was 1023.51, and the 
total solids 69.35 grammes ; of this amount 27.22 were inorganic and 42.13 or- 
ganic matter, 
I took two grains of the dried bulb of the Scilla marilima three times in the 
twenty-four hours. The other conditions remaining the same as in the prelimi- 
nary examination of the urine. 
1st day. The quantity of urine passed on this day was 1572 cubic centimetres 
of 1020.34 specific gravity. The total solid matter was 60.67 grammes, 31.07 
of this amount being inorganic and 29.60 organic constituents. The urine was 
of feeble acid reaction. 
2d day. Quantity of urine 1493.5 cubic centimetres, specific gravity 1020.90. 
total solids 58.22 grammes, inorganic matter 30.15, organic 28.07 grammes. 
The reaction, &c., were the same as on the preceding day. 
3d day. On this day the quantity of urine amounted to 1535 cubic centime- 
tres', and was of 1019.37 specific gravity. The total amount of solid matter 
was 61.58 grammes, of which 30.58 were inorganic and 31.00 organic constitu- 
ents. The reaction, color, &c., were unchanged. 
From the above experiments it is perceived that the action of the squill was 
similar to that of the digitalis and juniper, i.e. causing an increase in the water 
of the urine and inorganic solids, but a reduction of the amount of organic mat- 
ter. The loss of organic matter was considerably greater than with either of 
the other substances. 
CoLCHicuM. — The investigations into the action of this substance were per- 
formed upon a healthy man 28 years of age. The urine for the three days imme- 
diately preceding the commencement of the experiments, was of the following 
daily average character. Quantity 1230 cubic centimetres, specific gravity 
1025.08; total solids 63.12 grammes, inorganic matter 29.83 and organic 33.29, 
The reaction was very strongly acid. 
1858 ] 
