Chemical examination of the urinary calculi in the Museum of the Medical Department of Transylvania University : with remarks on the relative frequency of calculus in Lexington, Ky., and the probable causes / by Robert Peter.

  • Peter, Robert, 1805-1894.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chemical examination of the urinary calculi in the Museum of the Medical Department of Transylvania University : with remarks on the relative frequency of calculus in Lexington, Ky., and the probable causes / by Robert Peter. 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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    he examined in the Norwich Hospital collection, makes his re- sults of little value compared with the subsequent ones of Dr. Yelloly. The first process, therefore, was, by means of a sharp frame- saw, made of a piece of watch main-spring, to separate the cal- culus into two parts, as nearly as possible through the centre of the nucleus. The sawings and fragments were carefully preserved to be used occasionally in the chemical examination; and the cut surfaces of the stone well washed and carefully rubbed with an ordinary teeth-brush, in clean water, to remove the adhering powder and give a slight polish to the cut surface, which aids in the development of the characteristic appearances of the differ- ent deposits of which it is made up. The color and general appearance of the exposed surface will usually give some idea of the chemical nature of the concretion ; especially when some little experience has been acquired in this kind of examination. The Uric acid concretion, is generally of a buff, tawny yellow, or reddish-brown color. It saws hard and the sawings are of the same color but of a lighter shade. Urate of ammonia, is usually of a grey or clay color, with a slight tinge of yellow, it is of a dull and earthy appearance, with no evidence of crystallization, and contrary to the statements of most writers, is sometimes ag- gregated into distinct and thin layers regularly superimposed. Cystine, is of a light, waxy yellow color, on the recently ex- posed surface. It saws with great facility and the sawings are of a pure white. # *** ^'■''; Oxalate of lime, or the mulberry calculus, is generally of a dark brown color, of various shades, often presenting the ap- pearance of the American black walnut-wood ; it is usually varied in color, in the cut surface, in irregular lines of lighter and darker, like the wavy lines of fortification agate. It saws very hard, and the powder is of a lighter shade of the same color as the solid mass. The structure of this concretion as presented by a fracture, is often fibrous, like the mineral called satin-spar, the fibres being in the direction of the radius of the stone. Ox- alate of lime is occasionally nearly white and crystalline. On itc^A'^v mw e» two specimens very beautiful transparent and colorless^ minute octahedral crystals of this substance^ formed the exterior deposit.' i****Vh &**■%+■-frCtr fcZtU*.. »iv//rrirf,