was stated that normal
urine was, as a rule, acid, that is, it turns blue litmus red. Certain
diseases render the urine alkaline. A like result is brought about
upon the ingestion of sodium citrate or bicarbonate of soda. Urine
which stands and becomes decomposed is alkaline in reaction, due to
the bacterial action, with the production of ammonia.

~Albumen in the Urine.~--The presence of albumen in the urine is
important, since normal urine does not contain this material in
quantities sufficient to be recognized by ordinary tests. Hence in
disease its presence is an indication of pathological processes taking
place either in the kidney or the urinary passages. The chief
abnormal condition indicated by the presence of albumen in the urine
is nephritis. Traces of albumen may occur in patients with fever or a
heart weakness. Blood and pus in the urine likewise indicate albumen.
When the nephritic condition is chronic, the kidneys themselves are
diseased and the presence of albumen may be in traces only, while
during the acute attack large quantities may be passed, but the urine
will clear up after a time.

~Benedict's Qualitative Sugar Test.~--Boil 5 c.c. of Benedict's
solution; add 8 drops of urine to be examined; hold the tube over the
flame and allow to boil vigorously for 3 minutes and set aside to cool
of itself. In the presence of sugar the entire solution will be filled
with a precipitate which may be greenish, yellow, or red, according to
the amount of sugar present. When the percentage of sugar is low
(under 0.3%) the precipitate will form only upon the cooling of the
solution. If there is no sugar present, the solution will either
remain clear or show a slight turbidity, due to the precipitation of
urates. The nurse must remember that to be useful the test must be
made accurately. There must never be more than 10 drops of urine and 8
drops is the usual quantity. The boiling must be vigorous and the
solution allowed to cool spontaneously.

~Fehling's Test for Sugar.~--Fehling's alkaline solution and Fehling's
copper solution must be kept in separate bottles until ready for use.
Then about 2 c.c. of Fehling's alkaline solution is poured into a test
tube and 2 c.c. of Fehling's copper solution is added. This is diluted
with hydrant water to 8 c.c. Half of this quantity is sufficient for
the test. The upper half of the solution is boiled over flame (gently
agitated while heating), and while still boiling a few d