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XXI. Contributions to the Chemistry of the Urine. Part II. — On the Variations in 
the Alkaline and Earthy Phosphates in Disease. By Henry Bence Jones, M.A . , 
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Communicated, by Thomas Graham, 
Esq., F.R.S., 8fc. 
Received January 22, — Read April 2, 1846. 
On the Variations in the Earthy and Alkaline Phosphates in Disease. 
The object of the following experiments was to show to what extent the amount of 
phosphatic salts was increased in disease. Unexpectedly, during the investigation 
the diminution of the amount became of equal interest. I have found no analyses 
undertaken for the solution of these questions, some of Sir C. Scudamore’s alone 
being excepted; and these are so made that it is impossible to compare them with 
those which will here be given. 
Though Dr. Prout long since remarked that excess of phosphates accompanied 
some affections of nervous structures, yet no analytical results were stated, and the 
observation seems to have referred to the earthy phosphates alone. 
I have in vain as yet sought for some immediate method for approximately deter- 
mining the total amount of phosphatic salts in the urine. An analysis, requiring five or 
six hours to perform, is at present the only satisfactory process which can be recom- 
mended. Most of the following experiments were made on the water first passed in 
the morning, and before food : occasionally this could not be obtained, and then the 
night or afternoon water was taken. Almost all the cases were in St, George’s Hos- 
pital, and therefore under nearly the same circumstances, as far as exercise was con- 
cerned. The diet usually varied with the state of the patient. The details of the 
cases would extend beyond the limits of the present paper. 
Had it been possible, I should have much preferred to make my experiments on 
the total quantity of urine passed during the twenty-four hours, by which means, 
measuring the quantity, the total amount of phosphates thrown out of the body would 
have been known ; but I found it utterly impossible to obtain any approach to accuracy 
in regard to the quantity of water passed in the twenty-four hours. The results would 
have been so valuable, that it was only when I found by experience how uncertain 
and inaccurate they must be, that I gave up the plan I had formed. Instead of giving 
the quantity of phosphatic salts in 1000 parts of urine, of certain specific gravity, it 
may be thought that a comparative view would have been better taken by calculating 
the solid residue in each case, from some of the various tables which give the amount 
MDCCCXLVI. 3 N 
