Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10775

    Indigo in human urine

    Date
    1852
    Creator
    Arthur Hill Hassall (1817 - 1894, British) , Physician
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (painting): 140mm
    width (painting): 125mm
    height (mount): 268mm
    width (mount): 208mm
    Subject
    Description
    The surface layer of human urine showing indigo and other contents following exposure to air and seen under a microscope. The specimen was taken from a woman patient referred to as ‘Case 1. Miss L- aet 24. Oscure case; Debility. Nervous Depression: with Imperfect Digestion.”

    Figure 2 from the manuscript version of the paper “On the frequent occurrence of indigo in human urine and on its chemical physiological and pathological relations” by Arthur Hill Hassall, in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, vol.6 (1850-1854), p.122.

    The illustration is inscribed: ‘A portion of Slaty Blue Pellicle formed on the surface of a specimen of Human Urine magnified shewing the constituents of which it consisted, namely, fragments of Indigo; ditto, of reddish=Brown Extractive=like substance; with Crystals of Phosphate of Magnesia; Vibriones; and innumerable Animalcules. 220 diam.’ Inscribed verso: ‘3rd Decr. 1852’.The brown card mount has been slightly trimmed, obscuring a second reverse inscription that repeats the date.

    Arthur Hill Hassall was a physician at the Royal Free Hospital in London and a public health expert.
    Associated place
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