399 
Gouty and Urinary Concretions. 
last, is still manifestly different, and cannot be supposed to 
originate from that source ; but if ever the drinking of water 
impregnated with calcareous earth gave rise to a stone in the 
bladder, this would most probably be the kind generated, and 
the remedy must evidently be of an acid nature. 
With respect to the mulberry calculus, I fear that an inti- 
mate knowledge of its properties will leave but small prospect 
of relief fro n any solvent ; but by tracing the source of the 
di-ease we may entertain some hopes of preventing it. As the 
saccharine acid is known to be a natural product of a species of 
oxalis, it seems more probable that it is contained in some 
other vegetables or their fruits taken as aliment, than produced 
by the digestive powers, or secreted by any diseased action of 
the kidneys. The nutriment would therefore become a sub- 
ject of minute inquiry, rather than any supposed defect of as- 
similation or secretion. 
When a calculus is discovered, by the evacuations, to be of 
the fusible kind, we seem to be allowed a more favourable 
prospect in our attempts to relieve : for here any acid that is 
carried to the bladder will act upon the triple crystals, and 
most acids will also dissolve the phosphorated lime ; while 
alkalies, on the contrary, would rather have a tendency to add 
to the disease. 
Although, from want of sufficient attention to the varieties 
of sediment from urine and want of information with regard 
to the diversity of urinary calculi, the deposits peculiar to each 
concretion are yet unknown ; it seems probable that no long 
course of observation would be necessary to ascertain with 
what species any individual may be afflicted. 
The lithic, which is by far the most prevalent, fortunately 
