| FIG. 56.—Embryo of "vinegar eel" in urine, from contamination; length, 340 µ; width, 15 µ. An epithelial cell from bladder and three leukocytes are also shown (studied with Dr. J. A. Wilder). |
Other parasites, most of which are described in [Chapter VI], may be present from contaminations. A worm which is especially interesting is Anguillula aceti, the "vinegar eel." This is generally present in the sediment of table vinegar, and may reach the urine through use of vinegar in vaginal douches, or through contamination of the bottle in which the urine is contained. It has been mistaken for Strongyloides intestinalis and for Filaria sanguinis hominis. It closely resembles the former in both adult and embryo stages. The young embryos have about the same length as filaria embryos, but are nearly twice as broad and the intestinal canal is easily seen (compare Figs. 56 and [107]).
C. EXTRANEOUS STRUCTURES
The laboratory worker must familiarize himself with the microscopic appearance of the more common of the numerous structures which may be present from accidental contamination (Fig. 57).
| FIG. 57.—Extraneous matters found in urine: a, Flax-fibers; b, cotton-fibers; c, feathers; d, hairs; e, potato-starch; f, rice-starch granules; g, wheat-starch; h, air-bubbles; i, muscular tissue; k, vegetable tissue; l, oil-globules. |
Yeast-cells are smooth, colorless, highly refractive, spheric or ovoid cells. They sometimes reach the size of a leukocyte, but are generally smaller (see [Fig. 88, l]). They might be mistaken by the inexperienced for red blood-corpuscles, fat-droplets, or the spheric crystals of calcium oxalate, but are distinguished by the facts that they are not of uniform size; that they tend to adhere in short chains; that small buds may often be seen adhering to the larger cells; and that they do not give the hemoglobin test, are not stained by osmic acid or Sudan but are colored brown by Lugol's solution, and are insoluble in acids and alkalis. Yeast-cells multiply rapidly in diabetic urine, and may reach the bladder and multiply there.
Mold fungi (Fig. 58) are characterized by refractive, jointed, or branched rods (hyphæ), often arranged in a network, and by highly refractive, spheric or ovoid spores. They are common in urine which has stood exposed to the air.
| FIG. 58.—Aspergillus from urine (Boston). |
Fibers of wool, cotton, linen, or silk, derived from towels, the clothing of the patient, or the dust in the air are present in almost every urine. Fat-droplets are most frequently derived from unclean bottles or oiled catheters. Starch-granules may reach the urine from towels, the clothing, or dusting-powders. They are recognized by their concentric striations and their blue color with iodin solution. Lycopodium granules (Fig. 59) may also reach the urine from dusting-powders. They might be mistaken for the ova of parasites. Bubbles of air are often confusing to beginners, but are easily recognized after once being seen. Scratches and flaws in the glass of slide or cover are likewise a common source of confusion to beginners.
| FIG. 59.—Granules of lycopodium (Saxe). |