84 
Character  of  the  Urine. 
(  A. ru.  Jour.  Pharui. 
\  February,  1896. 
In  conclusion,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that,  while  the  author 
favors  the  chloroform-ether  process,  he  cannot  consider  it  superior  to 
the  methods  of  Lyons  and  Haubensak  to  any  extent. 
Philadelphia,  January  20,  1896. 
THE  INFLUENCE  OF  CERTAIN  MEDICINAL  COMPOUNDS 
ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE  URINE.* 
By  Frederick  W.  Haussmann. 
The  examination  of  urine  for  abnormal  ingredients,  in  particular 
albumin  and  sugar,  involves  frequently  questions  of  considerable 
delicacy. 
To  the  analyst,  examining  insurance  cases,  and  to  the  practical 
physician,  the  presence  of  traces  of  these  compounds  is  an  import- 
ant matter,  and  it  is,  at  times,  difficult  to  express  a  decided  opinion 
upon  the  normal  or  abnormal  condition  of  the  secretion. 
Normal  urine  possesses  the  property  of  responding  feebly  to  a 
number  of  reactions  for  glucose,  and  the  percentage  of  the  reducing 
principles,  estimated  by  the  various  methods  as  given  by  different 
authorities,  is  found  subject  to  variations.  The  fact  that  Fehling's 
solution  is  reduced  and  other  reactions  for  glucose  respond  to  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  by  urine  passed  after  the  administration  of  a 
number  of  internal  remedies,  has  only  received  attention  in  recent 
years,  and  while  much  remains  to  be  learned  on  the  subject  of  their 
elimination,  in  many  instances  we  are  able  to  foretell  the  occurrence 
of  such  reactions. 
In  the  composition  of  such  urines,  we  notice,  however,  peculiar 
variations. 
A  number  will  respond  to  every  commonly  employed  reaction  for 
glucose,  some  only  to  certain  tests,  while  with  the  others  entirely 
negative  results  will  be  obtained. 
For  instance,  in  urine  passed  after  the  administration  of  chloral 
hydrate,  we  have  both  the  Moore-Heller  reaction  for  glucose  with 
al'kaline  hydrates,  also  the  reducing  action  upon  Fehling's  solution, 
while  to  Boettger's  bismuth  test  the  urine  will  not  respond. 
Similar  results  are  found  in  a  number  of  instances. 
The  reducing  power  of  such  urines  also  varies  considerably,  some 
possessing  this  property  feebly,  while  others  reduce  alkaline  cupric 
tartrate  solution  readily,  so  that  a  suspicion  of  diabetes  can  be  en- 
tertained, unless  further  inquiry  is  made. 
