Clinical Chemistry in Practical Medicine

In this book some space is devoted to a discussion of the meaning and statistical interpretation of normal values and to methods for the proper collection and preservation of body fluids to be tested by chemical methods. Succeeding chapters deal with water, electrolyte, and carbohydrate metabolism; tests of renal function; proteins of the blood plasma; tests of gastric, pancreatic, and hepatic functions; the cerebrospinal fluid; thyroid function; calcium and phosphorus; hormone abnormalities; and nutritional deficiencies. Two appendixes at the end provide (1) the specific procedures employed for the examination of the urine, including its quantitative analysis, and examination of gastric contents, blood, and feces, and (2) tables indicating normal and abnormal values for constituents of the urine and blood, respectively. Under the heading simple hematological examination, customary methods are described for determining the number and percentage of the formed elements. Although this book departs from medical biochemistry in minor respects,