Uroscopy

Uroscopy is the historical medical practice of visually examining a patient's urine for pus, blood, or other symptoms of disease. It dates back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and India. The color, consistency, and volume of urine was the primary diagnostic method until the 19th century.

History[edit | edit source]

Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC) documented the significance of urine in the Hippocratic Corpus. He noted the appearance of "frothy" urine, as it is often seen in patients with proteinuria. Galen (129 – c. 200 AD), a prominent Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher, also wrote extensively about uroscopy.

Method[edit | edit source]

The urine would be collected in a matula, a transparent glass vessel. The color, smell, quantity, and sediment in the urine would be evaluated for signs of disease. The matula was a symbol of the medical profession, much like the caduceus is today.

Decline[edit | edit source]

Uroscopy began to decline in the 19th century with the advent of modern urinalysis, which uses chemical methods to analyze urine.

See also[edit | edit source]

Uroscopy Resources
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