This is a form of toxemia--retention of the urine in the blood--caused by faulty elimination. The exact "modus operandi" has not been discovered. Probably the cause is overworked kidneys, enervation, or faulty metabolic changes-faulty nutrition.

Symptoms

We are inclined to recognize an attack of uremia as indicating an inflammatory derangement of the kidneys. Where the poisoning is set up in pregnant women at the close of gestation, it is safe to decide that there is a faulty elimination by way of the kidneys; yet, when there is nothing extraordinary taking place--such as overeating, overstraining, overworking, worrying, anxiety, etc.--the kidneys do their work very well. When this can be known, the individual should be warned about being extra careful of himself, and he may run on for years without developing kidney disease. The kidneys may be weak, the same as all other organs. When this state exists, gluttony will certainly bring on overworked kidneys, and as a result there will be uremic headache. Unless the cause is understood and removed, uremia of a very pronounced character is liable to develop at almost any time.

Cerebral symptoms are met with in uremic poisoning. Crimes have been committed, and the victims punished, without anyone being aware of the fact that it came from uremic poisoning. Short seasons of insanity have been known to be caused by uremia, and the patient has recovered and passed along for years, and perhaps for life, without a repetition. People who are troubled with delusions should have the urine examined.

Convulsions in children and in grown people are brought on from uremia. Epilepsy is quite a common result of urine in the blood. Unconsciousness accompanies general convulsions. Uremia often causes gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as vomiting. Where the vomiting persists, death follows from exhaustion. The probabilities are that in such cases there is either cancer or sclerosis of the kidneys. Where the tongue is very foul, and the breath heavy and fetid, with a swollen state of the mucous membrane of the lips and gums, with ptyalism, or copious flow of saliva, uremia may be suspected. Chronic cases of uremia often end in acute diseases, such as peritonitis, pleurisy, meningitis, and inflammation of the pericardium.

Uremia may be mistaken for brain diseases, such as hemorrhages, meningitis, and even tumors. The uremic headaches are very much inclined to cause the physician to think of brain tumors; for they are so persistent and resistant to treatment that either brain lesions or tumors are thought of. When a patient is found under the influence of uremic coma, it may be suspected that it is a case of alcoholism. It is very easy to determine whether this is true; for, if it is alcohol poisoning, the breath will give off a strong odor of alcohol.