ORGANIC SUBSTANCES. (a) l?pitbciial cells mainly from the bladder and vagina occur in DC/Mal urine. In inflammatory conditions of the bladder and vagina their number is greatly in creased. Epithelium from the kidney may also occur in the mine. II is cuboidal or (-Ammar in shape and most abundant in degenerative condi tions of the kidney, and in disease of the kidney pelvis. Pigmented columnar epithelium from the seminal vesicles may sometimes be found. (L1 Casts are among the most important of the or ganic substances found in urine, indicating as they often do serious conditions in the kidneys. They are formed by the coagulation of altm minoid matter in the tubules of the kidney, thus producing casts of the tubules. From here they are washed along the urinary tubules into the urine. Casts almost clear composed of albumin and a few fine granules are known as hyaline casts. Occurring in small numbers hyaline casts may be of little significance, being present in functional albuminuria in the urine of old per acute nephritis. Casts containing fine or coarse granules are of frequent occurrence.
Pus cells are found in the urine in the more se vere forms of acute nephritis and in suppuratiVe inflammation of any part of the genitourinary tract. Pus is most abundant in cystitis; less abundant and more thoroughly mixed with the urine in pyclitis; least abundant, and confined mainly to the first part of the specimen passed, in ureth ritis.
Red blood cells appear as round biconcave disks, about seven micromillimeters in diameter. They sons and often in urine otherwise normal. In chronic inflammation of the kidney these casts occur in large numbers. So-called 'waxy' casts are less transparent than the hyaline and turn brown when subjected to the action of iodine. They are characteristic of the waxy degeneration of the kidney which sometimes accompanies chronic nephritis. Casts containing epithelial cells are known as epithelial casts. They are associated with acute disease of the kidney. Blood casts, or casts containing red blood cells, are found in urine in eases of acute exudative ne phritis and in connection with the hemorrhages which sometimes occur. Pus casts, or casts con taining pus cells, are found in suppurative ne phritis and in some of the more severe eases of may be found in severe acute inflammations of the genitourinary tract and in conditions deter mining hemorrhage along the tract.
Spermatozoa are frequently found in the urine of healthy individuals. Constant presence of spermatozoa in the urine may occur in certain diseases of the prostate and seminal vesicles. The condition is also frequently present in sexual neuroses.
Yeast and mold plants are frequently found in the urine of diabetics, more rarely in other conditions.