DISEASES OF ADULT LIFE. 381 
urine is from 1005 to 1030, generally 1015 to 1025; average 
daily quantity 40 to 55 oz.; solid matters, 600 to 1200 grains. 
The natural reaction is acid; sometimes after meals, neutral 
or alkaline. Alkaline urine generally indicates some disease 
by which (1) some portion of the urine 1s retained and an 
alkaline fermentation is set up; or (2) some increased 
secretion of mucus. If the litmus paper used to test the 
alkalinity remains blue after drying. it is alkaline through 
some fixed alkali, potash, soda, or an alkaline earth. If in 
drying the paper resumes the red colour, it is made alkaline 
by a volatile alkali (usually carbonate of ammonium, from the 
decomposition of urine). The latter is always pathological. 
The urine may be abnormally acid, tending to form calculi. 
In chronic and acute diseases the amount of free acid 
generally diminishes, but it increases in pneumonia and 
rheumatic fever 
1. First class of deposits, uric acid, urates, phosphates, 
hippuric acid, lime oxalate, mucus, epithelium, and pigments. 
Uric acid deposits resemble grains of sand of a yellowish, 
reddish. or brownish colour Uric acid is insoluble in hot 
water, and soluble in the alkalies—soda, potash, ammonia. 
Test (muriatic acid): Add to sediment placed on a glass slide 
one drop of strong nitric acid; evaporate and add one drop 
of ammonia. A beautiful violet colour will indicate the uric 
acid Clinical significance—meat diet with little exercise, 
gout, diseases of the liver, chronic diseases of respiratory 
organs, chronic bronchitis, emphysema of lungs, pneumonia, 
theumatic fever, skin diseases, acute inflammation of kidneys. 
The urates are the most frequent deposit in urine; they are 
soluble in hot water, and tn the alkalies. When cool, turbid 
urine is heated to 190 degrees Fahr., if it becomes clear, a 
urate is present. The muracid test given above is applicable. 
The acids decompuse them, giving free uric acid. Clinical 
Significance—similar to uric acid. Phosphates: The earthy 
phosphates of lime and magnesium occur as precipitates; they 
are soluble in acetic and the stronger acids. A few drops of 
