Nephrosis

The term nephrosis, introduced several years ago, was carefully studied by Volhardt, and later elaborated in the studies of Epstein, Eppinger and many other observers. There is a type of disturbance in which one finds, as outstanding features, massive edemas and anasarca, low blood pressure, abundance of albumin in the urine, a urine of a high specific gravity, a urinary sediment that is rich in casts and shows a persistent absence of blood, and a kidney that shows essentially a degenerative process in the epithelial cells. This condition is clinically referred to as nephrosis. Further, we find that the urine contains globulin; there are no eye changes in the uncomplicated cases, the fundi remaining normal throughout the illness; there is a moderate but progressive anemia and an inability to excrete salt; the level of the plasma chlorids depends on the developing or eliminating of the edema; there is normal excretion