On the chemical analysis of the Tennessee collection of urinary calculi / by E.B. Haskins.

  • Haskins, E. B. (Edward Branch), -1868.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the chemical analysis of the Tennessee collection of urinary calculi / by E.B. Haskins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    S2 were found more constantly, and in larger masses in the central portion of the concretions. I examined five specimens with special regard to this point. In order to do so very small calculi were selected, (Or the smal- ler nuclei of larger ones, that sometimes become detached and roll out whilst sawing them open.) They were carefully reduced by scaling off layer after layer, down to a small central mass.* This, after treatment more or less prolonged, with boiling water, di. lute hydrochloric acid, and dilute solution of caustic potash, and lastly sulphuric ether, was washed with distilled water, teased out with needles (and generally retreated as above, as the deposited matter adheres with great tenacity.) and placed under the micro- scope. I have invariably found this central portion, to consist, in a large proportion, of animal matter, sometimes friable and easily broken up, but oftener tough and adherent, displaying when well prepared, masses of epithelium scales, fibrinous casts from the tubes of the kidney, and a fibrinous looking substance without definite struc- ture. Besides the little bodies just noticed, six small oxalate of lime (hemp seed) calculi t were opened and the centres of all six (from the same subject) were occupied by a dark brown pulverulent mat- ter giving the reaction of blood as noticed already. All of these central masses would have escaped detection, had the calculi been of sufficient size to have required the saw to open them. Origin of Urinary Calculi.—However averse I may be to spec- ulate upon the results of the very limited researches here recorded? the facts just mentioned are so suggestive, I trust it will not be considered out of place should I offer a few remarks upon the ori- gin of urinary calculi. It is, if I mistake not, generally believed, that some general or * Many were experimented upon, but five were all that could be sufficiently reduced for satisfactory examination. Indeed most calculi becomes so compact towards the centre as to render their concentric reduction, almost or quite im- possible. After being reduced as far as practicable, by splitting them open with the point ot a knife the nucleolus (?) maybe found, (sometimes as large as a bird shot) so constructed, as to be easily detached entire. It is best to im- merse the little stone in water before attempting to split it in order to preven' the fragment from flying off. t Nos.149, 150, 151,152, 153, and 154, of the Table.