URINE.

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ought to be equal to three-fourths of the liquid part of our aliment.But suppose any one were to take the trouble of measuring both,he would find that every thing which altered the degree of perspi-ration would alter this proportion, and likewise that different kindsof aliment would afford very different quantities of urine. Thoughfor these, and other reasons, no rule can be given for judging the pre-cise quantity of urine which ought tobe discharged, yet a person ofcommon sense will seldom be at a loss to know when it is in eitherextreme.

As a free discharge of urine not only prevents but actually curesmany diseases, it ought by all means to be promoted ; and everything that may obstruct it should be carefully avoided. Both thesecretion and discharge of urine are lessened by a sedentary life,sleeping on beds that are too soft and warm, food of a dry andheating quality, liquors which arc astringent and heating, as redport, claret, and such like. Those who have reason to suspectthat their urine is in too small quantity, or who have any symp-toms of the gravel, ought not only to avoid these things, but what-ever else they find has a tendency to lessen the quantity of theirurine.

When the urine is too long retained, it is not only resorbed, ortaken up again into the mass of fluids, but by stagnating in the blad-der it becomes thicker, the more watery parts flying off first, andthe more gross and earthy remaining behind. By the constanttendency which these have to concrete, the formation of stonesand gravel in the bladder is promoted. Hence it comes to passthat indolent and sedentary people are much more liable to thesediseases than persons of a more active life.

Many persons have lost their lives, and others have brought onvery tedious, and even incurable disorders, by retaining their urinetoo long, from a false delicacy. When the bladder has been over-distended, it often loses its power of action altogether, or becomesparalytic, by which means it is rendered unable either to retainthe urine, or expel it properly. The calls of nature ought neverto be postponed. Delicacy is doubtless a virtue, but that can nev-er be reckoned true delicacy which induces any one to risk hishealth, or hazard his life.

But the urine may be in too great, as well as too small a quan-tity. This may be occasioned by drinking large quantities of weakwatery liquors, by the excessive use of alkaline salts, or any thingthat stimulates the kidneys, dilutes the blood, &c. This disordervery soon weakens the body, and induces a consumption. It isdifficult to cure, but may be mitigated by strengthening diet andastringent medicines, such as are recommended under the articleDiabetes, or excessive discharge of urine.

beriess other causes, are sufficient to induce a change either in the quantity or appear-ance of the urine. Any one who attends to this will be astonished at the impudenceof those daring quacks, who pretend to find out diseases, and prescribe to patients,from the bare inspection of their urine. These impostors, however, are very com-mon all over Britain, and, by the amazing credulity of the populace, many of themamass considerable fortunes. Of all the medical prejudices which prevail in thiscountry, that in favour of urine doctors is the strongest. The common people havestill an unlimited faith in their skill, although it has been demonstrated that no one ofthem is able to distinguish the urine of a horse, or any other animal, from that of a

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