Fig. 24.—The most important clinical spectra. (Monographic Medicine. D. Appleton and Co., New York.)
Albumin is present in quantity and urobilin is usually present in large amount.
One can examine the urine for blood by the haemin-crystals, guaiac or benzidin tests.
Burkitt has noted that his cases of blackwater have shown a very acid urine with large amounts of acetone bodies.
The serum shows haemoglobinaemia and may show reduced alkalinity.
Prognosis
So far as statistics go the mortality rate would appear to be influenced by the delicateness of the tests used for determining the presence of haemoglobinuria. When a diagnosis is only made with the presence of marked haemoglobinuria, showing porter-colored urine, the mortality rate is, of course, higher than when slight haemoglobinuria is taken into consideration.
In cases treated with quinine, Deaderick, in statistics of various authorities, gives a death rate of 25.9%; in cases not so treated, of 11.1%.