AmNovr;illarm-}   -The  Value  of  Ehrlicli  s  Urine  Test.  559 
which  caused  a  darkening  with  ferric  chloride,  without  responding  to 
any  other  of  the  tannin  tests.  The  glucoside  noticed  by  Mr.  Mell 
was  probably  saponin,  since  it  was  extracted  from  aqueous  solution 
by  chloroform.  H.  T. 
THE  VALUE  OF  EHRLICH'S  URINE  TEST  FOR  TYPHOID 
FEVER. 
By  George  M.  Beringer. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  Oct.  18. 
The  color  produced  by^  urine  with  a  solution  of  sulphanilic  acid 
has  been  claimed  by  Ehrlich  as  a  means  of  detecting  typhoid  in  its 
earlier  stages,  even  before  the  appearance  of  the  typical  symptoms, 
rash,  etc.  Mr.  Joseph  W.  England  reported  the  following  method 
of  applying  the  test  (American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1891,  page 
61 1).  A  small  quantity  of  a  one  per  cent,  solution  of  sodium  nitrite 
is  added  to  the  urine  and  then  a  quantity  of  a  saturated  solution  of 
sulphanilic  acid  in  a  five  per  cent,  solution  of  hydrochloric  acid,  fol- 
lowed by  the  addition  of  ammonia.  The  test  is  stated  to  produce 
a  urine  color. 
Dr.  C.  E,  Simon,  of  the  Johns  Hopkins  hospital,  recommends  the 
contact  method  and  the  following  modification  of  the  test :  "  Solu- 
tion 1,  a  saturated  solution  of  sulphanilic  acid  in  5  per  cent,  hydro- 
chloric acid  ;  solution  2,  a  5  per  cent,  solution  of  sodium  nitrite ; 
40  cc.  of  solution  1  is  mixed  with  1  cc.  of  solution  2,  and  an  equal 
amount  of  urine  is  added  and  mixed.  1  cc.  of  ammonia  is  now 
carefully  run  down  the  side  of  the  test  tube;  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  liquids  there  will  be  observed  a  ring  of  the  characteristic  color 
varying  from  an  eosine  rose  to  a  deep  garnet  red."  This  method 
of  applying  the  test  was  followed  by  the  writer  in  the  experiments 
here  recorded.  Neither  of  these  writers  appear  to  question  the 
reliability  of  the  test. 
The  color  produced  in  applying  this  test  is  undoubtedly  due  to 
changes  in  the  composition  of  the  amido  benzene-sulphonic  acid 
(sulphanilic  acid),  which  is  changed  by  nitrites  or  nitrous  acid 
in  the  presence  of  alkalies  to  diazo-benzene-sulphonic  acid,  and 
this  reacting  with  the  peculiar  principle  present  in  the  urine  pro- 
duces the  color  most  likely  due  to  an  amine  derivative.  The  reac- 
tion is  analogous  with  that  used  in  the  estimation  of  nitrites  in 
water. 
