88 
Character  of  the  Urine. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharrn. 
X   February,  1896. 
Physical  Properties. — The  color  of  turpentine  urine  is  usually  deep 
red,  independent  of  the  fact  that  blood  may  be  present.  The  color 
continues  some  time  after  ceasing  the  administration  of  the  oil. 
The  specific  gravity,  in  the  writer's  experience,  is  increased,  the 
increase  continuing  for  some  time.  The  reaction  is,  in  most  cases, 
strongly  acid. 
Sugar  Reactions. — Turpentine  urine  will  also  respond  to  the  com- 
monly employed  reactions  for  grape  sugar. 
This  is  due  to  terpenglycuronic  acid,  which  has  the  property  of 
reducing  Fehling's  solution. 
The  high  specific  gravity  of  such  a  urine  specimen  may  have  the 
tendency  to  suspect  a  diabetic  condition,  although  the  red  color  of 
turpentine  urine  differs  from  the  one  of  diabetes. 
The  amount  of  oil  of  turpentine  ingested  apparently  influences 
the  reducing  power  of  the  urine. 
For  instance,  in  the  specimen  mentioned  above,  the  amount  of 
Fehling's  solution  reduced  corresponded  to  a  glucose  percentage  of 
0-5,  while  in  a  case  where  240  minims  of  oil  of  turpentine  were  ad- 
ministered in  two  to  three  days,  the  amount  corresponded  to  0-25 
per  cent,  of  glucose. 
In  the  former  specimen,  after  the  medicine  was  stopped  for  4  days, 
the  amount  of  reduction  corresponded  to  a  glucose  percentage  only 
of  •  i  per  cent. 
Marked  diminution  in  the  specific  gravity  also  took  place  in  this 
instance. 
Other  Glucose  Tests. — Besides  reducing  Fehling's  solution  and 
responding  to  Trommer's  test,  turpentine  urine  will  also  give 
decided  glucose  reactions  with  Boettger's  and  Nylander's  bismuth 
tests  and  the  Braun-Johnson's  picric  acid  and  caustic  alkali  method. 
The  bismuth  tests  respond  with  the  same  rapidity  as  a  grape 
sugar  solution,  while  the  deep  mahogany  color  of  the  picramine 
test  of  Braun  was  readily  developed  on  boiling. 
It  may  be  stated  that  the  two  tests  mentioned  last  cannot  be 
relied  upon  in  most  glycuronic  urines.  Examination  of  the  different 
specimens  of  turpentine  urine,  after  removing  the  reducing  glycu- 
ronic compound  by  means  of  basic  lead  acetate,  showed  the  same 
to  be  perfectly  free  from  glucose. 
Incidentally,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  pure  oil  of  turpentine, 
examined  with  various  glucose  reagents,  showed  no  reducing  power 
whatever. 
