Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. II. Of the differences of Urine, and first of the substance of Urine.

FIrst in Urine too things are to be considered, * 1.1 in re∣gard of the substance thereof, the liquor, and that which is contained in the liquor. In the liquor a∣gain two things, the Consistence and the Choller.

First for the Consistence, some are thick, * 1.2 some are thin, others indifferent.

That Urine is thin, which for the most part consists of watry and potulent matter, but of serous and salt matter, that which is separated in the Veins and Liver; or of another humor, which hath little or no mixture with it.

On the contrary, * 1.3 a thick Urine is that which contains much mixture of serous and salt humidity, or also of other humors. * 1.4 The middle is that which hath so much of that serous excrement, and aqueous humidity mixt with it, as for the most part is wont to be in a natural consti∣tution of the body.

Moreover some Urines are clear, others troubled, * 1.5 or foul; those are troubled, through which the sight cannot passe; but 'tis not the same thing for Urine to be thick and troubled, when as other liquors; so Urines also are accounted thick, which neverthelesle are cleare, and per∣spicuous; but a clear Urine is either made clear and so remains, or else 'tis made clear, and afterwards is trou∣bled, which is properly called troubled Urine; but trou∣bled Urine, properly so called, is that which is made so, and either remains such, which Urine commonly is cal∣led subjugal, which is like the contents of the U∣rine, or is made foul, or troubled, and afterwards become cleare, and becomes so afterwards, as is spoken. Moreover in respect of the colour, there are accounted several differences, but the principal colours, according to which the Urines differ are six.

First white; secondly, pale; thirdly, flame colour; fourthly, yellow; fifthly red; sixthly, black.

First to the white Urines belong the aqueous, * 1.6 which bare the colour of pure water, then those which represent thin wine, or fair water, into which is cast a little Oker, or Choller, as also snowy Urine, which represents the whiteness of snow, as also milkey and light gray, or such as represents the colour of clear horn.

The second is pale like the colour of Oker, * 1.7 or sub∣pallid, which is seen in water tinckted with Oker, but some call these Urines spicious, or the colour of ears of corn, * 1.8 and subspicious, and compare this colour to the colour which is seen in chaff that is old, or in straw.

The third colour is flame colour, such as is that of a Citron, and in fire burning clear, which if it be more remiss, 'tis called subfulgent; Actuarius calls these golden Urines, and subaureous, because they are like gold.

Fourthly, * 1.9 the next and neerest to this fulgent is yel∣low, yet so differing from it, that this inclines more to white, * 1.10 that is more shining and splendid, or neer to the colour and splendor of the Stars; that which is not so deep but clearer, then yellow is called subflavous; Actua∣rius calls these colours croceous, or saffron colours, or subcroceous, such as are in waters wherein saffron, or whilde saffron flowers are mixed.

The fifth colour, or red, whereof Galen makes three sorts, * 1.11 and places red in the middle, extream red, the highest, and reddish the lowest, and those he places in Bole-Almonack, and Vermilion, and red, in Cherries and Apples; others make four differences, and first they place the colour that is a mixt red, such as is the hair of those who are said to be red hair'd, which again is distingui∣shed into red, and reddish; the second is Rosie; the third purpurious; the forth sanguineous.

To these Actuarius joines a vine coloured Urine, * 1.12 which represents the colour of a red Urine inclinable to black, to this be addes the colour of dry grapes, like new Wine (out of doubt of red Wine) boiled to the third part, * 1.13 or which is prest out of dried Grapes, or of Cher∣ries, inclining to a black colour.

Moreover there is a black Urine, * 1.14 under which some-Physitians

comprehend more colours, green, yellow, black, and such like; although there be innumerable dif∣ferences of green plants, yet two here are the chiefe, Leek-colour, which is seen in the blades of Leeks; * 1.15 and Eru∣ginous which is like Verdy-grease, and yellow, which represents the colour of red Lead, and therefore called plumbeous.

To these differences they refer Oleagenous Urine, * 1.16 which represents the colour and consistence of Oyl.

Now these differences which are taken from the sub∣stance and colour are complicate, and constitute, * 1.17 com∣pound differences, amongst which the chief are seaven, Urine thin and white, thin, pale, thin flame colour, or fulgent, thick white, thick red, thick black

Moreover besides these there are other differences less principal, which are taken from other qualities and cir∣cumstances; first from the smell, for some Urines smell little, others very little, and have that odour which is natural to Urine, others stink exceedingly, and others smell pleasant.

From the sound, for some Urines whilest they are poured out make no noise, others make a noise.

From the quantity, for some Urines are made in an indifferent quantity, others more sparingly, others more plentifully.

From the manner, for some are made without difficul∣ty and pain, others with pain, some drop by drop, and others altogether.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The sub∣stance af Vrine.
• * 1.2

  Consistence of Vrine. Thin Vrine.
• * 1.3

  Thick.
• * 1.4

  Indiffe∣rent.
• * 1.5

  Troubled and thick Vrine no the same. Troubled.
• * 1.6

  White U∣rine.
• * 1.7

  Pale.
• * 1.8

  Straw colour. Flame co∣lour.
• * 1.9

  Yellow.
• * 1.10

  Brighter yellow.
• * 1.11

  Red.
• * 1.12

  Vine co∣lour.
• * 1.13

  Blakish.
• * 1.14

  Black Urine.
• * 1.15

  Eruginous
• * 1.16

  Oyly Vrine
• * 1.17

  The smell of Vrines.