On the Epidemics of 1852-3. 468 
and in many of the cases of scarlet fever; but that after 
scarlet fever and anasarca, it was no longer found there. 
So far, therefore, as regards the determination of the 
question, whether kidneys that had passed albumen with 
urine could return to a healthy state, these observations 
clearly show that they do so after scarlet fever ; how far they ~ 
may be liable to after disease I cannot say,—but while 
seeking for this information I was furnished by these tables 
with an unlooked-for result. In connection with the passage 
of albumen, there is at the same time an absence of urea, 
and its absence is clearly indicated and measured by the 
lowering of the specific gravity of the urine in proportion to 
the lessened quantity of urea. Not only is this the case in 
dropsy after scarlet fever, but during the fever there is a 
tendency to a lessening of the quantity of urea excreted, 
for on examining the tables carefully it will be seen that 
the urine rises after scarlet fever and after dropsy, although - 
no albumen had been passed. 
This rise in the specific gravity of urine before it can be 
trusted as a guide in prognosis must be looked at by com- 
parison with the daily passage of each patient's urine, and 
marking its actual decrease or increase ; it will be useless to 
take any number as a healthy standard, and individuals must 
be examined several times. 
If the urine increases in specific gravity, the patient is 
not likely to be the subject of dropsy ; if the urine sinks 
lower, although no signs of dropsy exist, they may be calcu- 
lated upon. 
This isa useful and desirable mode of enquiry when the 
practitioner has time to adopt it, as I know of no other means, 
before four weeks are passed, of being pretty sure that the 
_ patient will not have dropsy. 
These tables also bear out the views of Dr. Copeland, and 
