Mr. Home’s inquiries into the functions of the stomach, and his discovery of liquids passing directly from the cardiac portion into the circulation of the blood, occasioned him to consider the prevention of calculous complaints, by correcting the generation of acid in the sto- mach, and consequent secretion of uric acid.
Since magnesia was better adapted to the mere correction of acidity than alkalies, as it could not he absorbed till it had been previously dissolved, Mr. Home was desirous of examining its effects in pre- venting the generation of uric acid, and requested Mr. Brande's as- sistance for that purpose.
After several previous trials, in which it appeared that an excessive secretion of uric acid was corrected by magnesia more than by a liberal use of alkalies. it was afterwards tried in various cases of con- firmed calculus; and four cases are selected as instances of the prin- cipal varieties of that disorder, from many others in which magnesia was tried.
The first was that of a gentleman of 60, who had passed small calculi of uric acid.
He had first taken subcarbonate of soda in Water highly impreg- nated with carbonic acid, to the quantity of nine dmchms in a day, hut without any apparent effect on the secretion and formation of uric concretions.
He then took, in the same manner, subcarbonate of potash, dis- solved in water impregnated with carbonic acid, to the quantity of three dmchms every day; but though the deposit of sand from the urine was in some degree diminished, yet small calculi continued occasionally to be voided.
On the contrary, by taking as much as fifteen grains of magnesia three times a day, the quantity of uric acid was diminished in quan- tity; and after three weeks was only occasionally perceived in his urine.
The second case is that of a gentleman 40 years of age, who for four years preceding had occasionally passed much red sand, and once a small calculus.
Subcarbonate of soda was first given him in water highly impreg- nated with carbonic acid, which had the effect of diminishing the secretion of uric acid, but not of preventing occasional severe attacks after irregularities in his diet.
Magnesia was next directed, to the quantity of twenty grains every night and morning; and during six wecks’ continuance of this preventive, he had no return of his complaint, and no superabundance of uric acid in the urine.
