302 
DR. HASSALL ON THE FREQUENT PRESENCE 
had formed upon the surface; this consisted chiefly of very much triple phosphate, of 
Vibriones, numerous crystals of phosphate of lime, and one small circular tuft of the 
fungus Penicilium glaucum in perfect fructification ; in the centre of the glass was a 
large patch of phosphatic pellicle, an inch and a half in diameter, rusty-red at the 
edges, but decided blue in the centre ; a rim or border of blue had likewise collected 
around the edges of the fluid ; lastly, the urine had become very deep brown, with 
brown extractive at the bottom of the glass. 
The second sample, passed after a severe attack of vomiting, was slightly acid only, 
of specific gravity 1014, and was of a straw-colour; it changed colour very rapidly, 
becoming dark brown; a phosphatic pellicle soon formed over the entire surface, 
which became first slaty-blue, and then decidedly blue ; the urine also quickly 
changed colour, becoming dark brown, while at the bottom of the glass there was a 
large quantity of the brown, treacly-looking extractive. 
The third sample was neutral, of a light brown colour, and of specific gravity 
1012 ; after three or four days it became covered with a greasy, iridescent, phosphatic 
pellicle, which gradually turned slaty-blue, especially around the edges of the fluid, 
which was thickish and brown. Under the microscope many pieces of the blue 
colouring matter were detected. 
The fourth sample, obtained many days subsequent to the above, differed greatly 
from the others in its acid reaction and in its greater specific gravity. It was very 
decidedly acid, rather high-coloured, and of specific gravity 1024. In the course of 
a few days small circular patches of Penicilium glaucum , in perfect fructification, 
were observed studding the surface of the urine ; in the intervals between these 
patches, and surrounding them, was a phosphatic pellicle; the urine had now 
become alkaline, turbid and deep brown, no blue being visible to the naked eye; 
but on tearing up one of the tufts with needles, and examining it under the micro- 
scope, numerous blue, indigo-like masses were seen, as well as threads of the sugar- 
fungus, showing that a small quantity of sugar was present in this urine. 
Several other samples of this urine were examined ; these changed colour a good 
deal, becoming turbid and brown, and more or less blue being detected ; sometimes 
the blue was visible either on the surfaced - around the edges of the urines; in others 
the microscope was necessary for its discovery. 
The urine, the blue deposit, and the brown extractive of the first of the above 
samples were likewise subjected to chemical analysis. The results were similar to 
those obtained in the previous case, the blue colouring matter possessing all the 
characters of indigo. 
More recently, a third very decided case of blue urine has fallen under my obser- 
vation. A bottle of urine was received from my brother, Dr. Hassall, of Richmond, 
on the 26th of April 1853, labelled “ Mr, Arters, obscure case.” I examined this 
at the time without being able to discover anything very wrong about it ; it was 
pale, slightly acid, of specific gravity 1013, and it let fall a large quantity of a mucus- 
