138 Mr. W. Brande’s Observations on the Effects 
deposited as usual, and the small calculi continued to 
form. 
On account of the inefricacy of this medicine, he was advised 
to try the vegetable alkali, and three drachms of subcarbonate 
of potash dissolved in water, slightly impregnated with car- 
bonic acid, were taken at similar intervals. 
The deposit of uric acid in the urine, was now somewhat 
diminished ; but during this free use of alkalies, which with 
little interruption, was persevered in for more than a year, 
the small calculi still continued to be voided. 
The very unusual disposition to form uric acid, and the 
complete failure of the common alkaline medicines, rendered 
this case particularly favourable for the trial of magnesia, as 
it would afford an opportunity of comparing its effects with 
those of the alkalies. 
Previous to giving the magnesia, the urine was examined, 
to ascertain the quantity of uric acid it contained : this being 
done, the patient was directed to take fifteen grains of mag- 
nesia three times a day, in an ounce and a half of infusion of 
gentian : in a week the uric acid was found, by examining the 
urine, to have diminished in quantity, and after the first three 
weeks, it was only occasionally met with. 
The use of magnesia has been persevered in for eight 
months, during which time no calculi have been voided, nor 
has there been any material deposit in the urine. 
This patient was extremely subject to heartburn, and he 
likewise complained of a sense of weight and uneasiness about '' 
the region of the stomach, both of which symptoms have 
disappeared. 
