On some diseases in which albuminous urine occurs / by Thomas Williamson.

Date:
[1841]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On some diseases in which albuminous urine occurs / by Thomas Williamson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    about 18 ounces of pale-coloured urine daily. Specific gravity 1012> heat and nitric acid gave an abundant precipitate ot albumen. Most of the following cases came under my own direct obser- vation. Cash VI.—Mrs Ross, aged 63, ofsoberand temperate habits, before death had for some years been affected with all the symp- toms of scirrhus of the pyloric extremity of the stomach, such as, almost constant pain, anorexia, and frequent vomiting of a dark- coloured fluid, somewhat similar to coffee-grounds. Upon dissec- tion, the pyloric extremity of the stomach was thickened and hard- ened, which arose from its cellular tissue having become hypertro- phied. Kidneys perfectly healthy, as were all the other abdomi- nal organs. The lungs were loaded with frothy mucus. Left ven- tricle of heart in a state of hypertrophy without dilatation ; its other cavities were perfectly healthy and natural; the two serous surfaces of the pericardium were universally adherent by means of old cellular bands. During life there was nothing remarkable in respect of the renal secretion, as regarded quantity. Then, it was not examined. After death, however, the quantity of urine ob- tained from the bladder, though too limited to enable us to as- certain its specific gravity, nevertheless, by the agency both of heat and nitric acid, afforded an albuminous precipitate almost equal in volume to the quantity of fluid employed.* Case VII.—Mrs W. for three years before death had labour- ed under symptoms of diseased stomach. Upon dissection, the pyloric extremity of the stomach was found in a well-marked state of what is usually denominated scirrhus of the stomach. All the other abdominal organs were healthy. Unfortunately, however, the kidneys were not minutely examined, so that we are unable to bring forward any positive evidence as to their natural or healthy state. We have, however, thought this case worth inserting along with the preceding one of scirrhus of the stomach, more especial- ly as the urine which was obtained from the bladder was highly albuminous. Case VIII.—J. A., 73 years of age, had been the subject of retention of urine for the last ten or twelve days of his life, seem- ingly dependent upon a paralyzed state of the bladder. The urine was secreted in considerable abundance, and was of a dark green- ish colour; specific gravity 1022. This urine contained a large quantity of albumen. Upon dissection the left kidney was very # Tn many of the succeeding cases, it will be observed that the urine was submit- ted to chemical examination after the death of the patients. Now, though I am aware that on this account objections may be urged against the validity of such cases, on the ground of the serum of the blood exuding through the tissues of the bladder after death, and consequently mingling with the urine therein contained, nevertheless, as from experiment l know this to be by no means a phenomenon of universal occur- rence, I think it but right to record those cases in conjunction with others.