URIM

A word connected in its sign i fication with the word thummim, being the plural of the Hebrew aur, a light, a lutninary y whence it has come to signify fire. Tlmmmim, which is the plural of thorn or tam, means fulne or perfection. See Wilkinson" s Ancient Egyptians, as to the connection of this word with the title of the Egyptian god Thauth, or Thoth. The two words, conjointly, signify light and perfection; but the Septuagint render it literally lr,Xa)(rts xcti kXriSuce,, manifestation and truth. The urim and thummim were the precious stones on the high priest's breastplate, which made known the will of God by casting an extraordinary lustre, and thereby manifested the succe of events to those who consulted them. The high priest alone could officiate at this solemn ceremony; and the urim was to be consulted only at the instance of public persons, such as the king, the president of the sanhedrim, and the general of the Israel it ish army; and only on such public matters as related to the common interest of the twelve tribes. The manner in which the high priest consulted the urim was as follows: — Having entered into the sanctuary or holy place, being fully invested with his robes and breastplate, and with his face turned towards the ark of the covenant, upon which the divine presence! URINE. reposed, he brought the matter to be consulted; the person for whom he consulted standing behind him, and in humility and reverence awaiting the answer. The high priest then fixed his eyes on the pectoral, and those letters which formed the answer shone with more than ordinary lustre, and were significantly raised out of their places. So when David inquired of God, by means of the urim, whether he should go up to one of the cities of Judah, three letters came out of their places as it wercj and gave the answer. While the Hebrews were under a theocracy, or immediately governed by Jehovah, it was nece ary there should always be means at hand to consult him; but when this theocracy ceased, and the kingdom became hereditary in the person and family of Solomon, and Israel became divided into two monarchies, under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the consulting of the urim and thummim appears to have ceased. URINE. {Gr. o^ovuv, to rush out.) The fluid secreted by the kidneys, whence it pa es by the ureters into the bladder. Ihe variable appearance of the urine announces, even to the casual observer, corresponding fluctuations in its composition; these have long oeea studied by physicians and medical chemists,.as furnishing useful prognostics in disease. The chemical analysis, however, of the urine is attended by many difficulties, chiefly arising out of the great number of different substances which are found in it, the variations in quantity and quality to which they are liable, and the facility with which they are modified by the analytical reagents which it is nece ary to employ. The substances always found in healthy urine are water; carbonic acid; phosphoric acid, or superphosphate of lime; uric acid, or super urate of ammonia; phosphates of lime, soda, magnesia, and ammonia; sulphate of soda; chloride of sodium (common salt); urea, albumen, and mucus; colouring and odorous matter. To these may probably be added fluoric, benzoic, and lactic or acetic acids; gelatine; acetate of ammonia; sulphate of pota a; fluoride of calcium; muriate of ammonia; sulphur; silica. In certain diseases other products make their appearance, which are not discoverable in healthy urine; such as oxalic acid, or oxalate of lime; nitric acid; sugar; carbonate of lime; cystic oxide; and occasionally some anomalous organic compounds, the nature of which has not been very satisfactorily ascertained. It is almost impo ible, in consequence of the circumstances above mentioned, to give a correct notion of the relative proportions of the component parts of healthy urine; but the following statement, from Berzelius, will serve to give an idea of the average composition of this complicated fluid. Water ------ 933-00 Urea 3010 Sulphates of potash and soda - - 687 Phosphate of soda and of ammonia - - 4-.59 Chloride of sodium - - -. 4-45 Muriate of ammonia - - - - 1-50 Free lactic add (acetic?) f Lactate of ammonia 5- - - - 17*14 Animal matter j Earthy phosphate and a trace of fluoride of calcium ----- IOO Uric acid - - - - - 1*00 Mucus and albumen - - - - 0-32 Silica 0-03 1000- 00 When the urine is in a healthy state, there are many circumstances of mind and body which materially influence its appearance and quantity. It is often little else than water, as after very copious draughts of diluting and diuretic liquids; at other times it is saturated with its solid contents, and even deposits part of them as it cools. If turbid at the time it is voided, it may always be considered as in a morbid state. Sometimes it contains foreign matters which have been taken as medicine or food. The peculiar odour imparted to it by asparagus, the colour by spinach, rhubarb, ., and the pa age of certain saline substances by the kidneys, are familiar cases of these modifications to which the urine is subject. The daily average voided under ordinary circumstances, by healthy individuals, is not le than 30 nor more than 40 ounces; and its specific gravity should not exceed 1030; though in some cases of disease, as in diabetes, and occasionally in some diseases of the liver and of the kidneys (as in cases of albuminous urine described by Dr. Bright) it rises to 1040. The usual average is 1020. It always reddens the vegetable blues which indicate free acid. In cases of suppre ed perspiration its quantity is usually increased; and in hot weather, and when the perspiration is copious, it is diminished, for it is one of the great outlets of mere water from the system. We may also observe, that a large quantity of nitrogen is thrown oflT by the same channel, for that element constitutes 20 per cent, of qrea, [s. 1290]