DIURETICS AND THEIR USES. 
25 
wise, in the place of a diuretic action, a purgative effect 
would be produced. The effects of acetate and bitartrate of 
potassa were instanced as bearing out this view. [Blood depu- 
ration by the kidneys was then considered, and viewed as 
possible in some cases. The various cases in which the 
blood in disease is, by means of the kidneys, thus naturally 
depurated, were mentioned. Thus, in jaundice, where the 
flow of bile, or its secretion, is impeded, the urine often 
eliminates it from the system. Again, in cases of portal 
congestion, the urine becomes loaded with purpurine ; and in 
excessive pulmonary disease, Dr. Hassal has detected indigo 
in the urine, both of which principles are highly rich in 
carbon. In health, the solid contents of the urine can 
scarcely be increased by the administration of diuretics, their 
effects being confined to the increase of the water of the 
secretion. Thus, if nitre is given in a healthy state of the 
system, w T e shall find, that in the urine secreted the amount 
of solids excreted only exceeds that under other circum- 
stances by the amount of the salt exhibited, the whole of 
which passes entire by this secretion. This result, too, 
would be expected when w r e remember that, in health, the 
processes of repair and w r aste go on pari passu in direct rela- 
tion to the wants of the system, and that, consequently, w r e 
cannot expect to do more than increase the fluids, without 
affecting the amount of the solids, of the urine. But in 
disease where the whole animal economy is involved and 
suffering from the various effects of faulty assimilation or 
perverted nutrition, it is possible that some of the morbid 
elements may be capable of removal by the action of diure- 
tics, as we know the poison of lead is eliminated under the 
curative effects of iodide of potassium. The diseases most 
likely to be thus benefited are gout, rheumatism, scrofula, 
and some (perhaps all) kinds of fevers. In confirmation of 
this view, the treatment of rheumatism by nitrate of potassa 
and acetate of potassa, and that of gout by the latter salt, 
were alluded to. The administration, too, of the acetate of 
potassa, according to Dr. G. Bird, has been very successful 
in agues, the quantity of the solids being more or less ac- 
cording as whether the fits occurred or not. The salts most 
likely to produce this effect in the system are those which 
are known to exert chemical changes in albumen and albu- 
minous tissues.” 
♦ 
4 
