Cases of diabetes, consumption, etc : with observations on the history and treatment of disease in general / by Robert Watt.

  • Watt, Robert, 1774-1819.
Date:
1808
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of diabetes, consumption, etc : with observations on the history and treatment of disease in general / by Robert Watt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    32/352 (page 12)
    In so far, as this disease is characterised by the sweet taste of the urine, Drummond's was the most perfect case of the Diabetes Mellitus, which I have seen. No experiments were made on the urine; of course the quantity and quality of the extract were not ascertained; but, from the sac- charine matter being so perceptible to the taste, its proportion must have been very considerable. With regard to the frequency of this symptom, very opposite opinions have been entertained. Dr Cullen had treated twenty cases of Diabetes. From his account of the matter, it would appear, that the sweet taste of the urine is a very promi- nent feature of the complaint, and one, which is seldom absent, and net difficult to be discover- ed. I think, says he, I have met with one instance of Diabetes, in which the urine was per- fectly insipid; and it would seem that a like obser- vation had occurred to Dr Martin Lister. I am persuaded, however, that such instances are very rare, and that the other is by much the more com- mon, and perhaps the'almost universal occurrence. I judge, therefore, that the presence of such a sac- charine matter, may be considered as the principal circumstance in Idiopathic Diabetes. Or Heberden has seen about twenty cases too.