CYSTOTOMY. 
199 
and frequently an hour or more should be allowed after the rea¬ 
gents are mixed with the urine in order to insure a total pre¬ 
cipitation. This is true particularly of the magnesian test. 
The metabolic processes concerned with the phosphates are 
not altogether dissimilar to the action upon the nitrogenous 
constituent of the proteid food stuffs, and in some ways there is 
an apparent correlation. 
Summary .—Phosphates in the soil that are of direct use in 
the metabolism of plants are : the phosphates of potassium, 
lime, magnesia and iron. When the plants are eaten as food 
and after being subjected to the action of the digestive juices, 
::heir phosphates are decomposed and the resulting phosphoric 
acid forms new combinations and these are distributed to the 
various tissue systems. 
In the animal tissues, the phosphate of potassium is found 
especially in the nervous system ; the phosphate of sodium 
especially in the blood plasma ; the phosphate of iron in the 
red blood corpuscles ; the phosphate of magnesia in the muscles, 
and the phosphate of lime in the bones. 
As a result of the metabolism in the tissues, physiologically 
or pathologically, a certain amount of phosphates are elimi¬ 
nated ; in the omnivora and carnivora chiefly in the urine ; in 
the herbivora slightly in the urine and more largely in the 
faeces. 
A knowledge of the normal amount of phosphates present 
in the urine or a departure from this standard, either in excess 
or deficiency, is of considerable importance clinically in the 
diagnosis and prognosis of numerous diseases. 
CYSTOTOMY (LITHOTOMY). 
By Veterinary Surgeon A. Chinniah, Colombo, Ceylon. 
History. —A black Waler gelding pony, about 14.2 high, 
eight years old, the property of W. W. Kenny, Esq., of Colombo, 
was brought to my surgery with the history that the animal 
passes highly blood-colored urine. It was treated by me for 
