Articella (The Little Art of Medicine)

Thick, milky urine.
And such [a complexion] consists; and if it comes at the end, it signifies lithiasis stone formation of the bladder or kidneys.

Thick, karopos and glaucus urine.
This complexion consists. And if it remains undisturbed, it demonstrates that there are many bad humors in the body. If, however, such urines were disturbed, like those of yoke-fellows i.e., those of similar constitution, they demonstrate a headache or a pricking, or that one is about to occur. How, however, they appear if they are already disturbed and settling clearly: proved by exterior fire, it is the same substance of the thick [urine]; if it happens that they are turbulent, the multitude of thin urine following this signifies the resolution of the disease.

Thick, yellowish urine.
This consists. And if there is such a hypostasis, it declares a long-lasting, praiseworthy, and curable disease.

Thick, red urine.
This consists and declares that there is much sanguine humor in the body, as in synochis a type of continuous fever and in acute fevers; such [urine] passed little by little signifies danger. Similarly, however, such urine in such fevers, if it is passed turbid with deafness and pain of the head, neck, and hypochondria, signifies that jaundice will occur before seven days.

Thick, inopos urine.
And such [a complexion] consists. And if it happens in a burning fever with a headache and pain around [the head], it is a crisis and brings a crisis.

Thick, kianos urine.
This consists. And in healthy people, supervening, it signifies the labor of a journey or signifies that much running has been done. To the elderly, however, supervening, for whom such [urines] are made from a long time by bad humors, it signifies that the bladder is being changed, as in pleurisy. If, however, at the end such [urines] are made, they constitute a lithiasis, signifying that strangury painful, slow urination will occur.

Thick, green urine.
This consists. And coming at the end of a fever, it signifies jaundice.

Thick, livid urine.
Such urine in a fever, and not settling, signifies phrenitis mental alienation/delirium. It signifies, however, something else in a fever, for in a burning fever, such urine appearing signifies that strangury will occur.

Thick, black urine.
This consists and declares the purging of melancholic humor, as in the decline of quartan [fevers], and in the resolution of melancholy; and because of coldness, such [urines] come, and because of the burning of blood. From such causes, therefore, the substance is exhausted, signifying that such colors are made with the thickness of the substance. Since, however, the true reason is that the three differences of black urine are thicker than that which is urine according to nature and according to substance, hence it is manifest that with the quartan [fever] resolved, and melancholic humor exiting through the urines, the urines appear thick and black. Similarly also, when a melancholic disease is resolved, it will be through the urines [that] caused the melancholy. Since, however, melancholic humor is earthy, and thick, and black, because of this, it also makes the urines both black and thick. Similarly also, those that are made black from the burning of blood, as was said before, have possessed a deficiency of substance, in that the burning exhausts the moisture that is in the vessels and manifestly thickens the cold matter by reason of constriction. Such urines in a fever signify spasm from dryness. They signify, however, something else; in a fever, indeed, phrenitis occurring, such [urines] coming with sweat of the head, neck, and back, and with sighing, are bad because of the burning. They signify, however, something else: such [urine] coming in acute fevers with a stench, having nothing bad in the bladder, signifies death.

Therefore, we have written the complexions of thin substance with which colors they can consist; and we have divided their significations; and we have manifested the causes because of which they are made; and we have exposed them in the description in such a way. Now, composing and conjugating those that can agree with the thick substance, we have separated the colors that can agree with it; and we have inquired diligently into their significations; and we have related their causes. It remains, however, that we expose them by description.

Thick white, thick milky, thick glaucus and karopos, thick yellowish, thick red, thick green, thick livid, thick black, thick helanos black/dark.

It remains that we speak concerning the medium substance and manifest with which colors it can agree; that, indeed, is substance according to nature. With this substance, therefore, as Galen says in the Pycriseon, he establishes reddish and yellowish; the Great One, however, [establishes] red and reddish. We, however, fear to reprehend safe and such men; we shall fill in what was omitted by both; joining and mixing the convenient mixture of the medium substance thus: since with the medium substance no color can agree, except yellowish and reddish, having red in the middle. These colors, therefore, are those joining the medium substance: red and reddish. And so that the reason may be manifest, it remains that we expose this in the description thus:

Thick white, thick milky, thick karopos, thick reddish, thick inopos, thick kianos, thick green, thick livid.

Here he determines concerning the sediment in general.

Since these things which I have exposed conveniently, and [since] I have kept a convenient order in these things which are written, and have manifested them in the description, and have made them clear to all by distinctions, let us dispute concerning all sediments hypostases, showing what is a good sediment, and what is from this, whether intense or remiss, and what can be perfected from it or from them, and which are dangerous and smaller than these, and which are fitting for health. Here, about to compose [the work] and the sediment, mixed from substance and colors, so that we may assign a perfect term, let us invoke Christ, our true God, to be a helper, so that we may omit nothing of this mixture.

Here he determines concerning the sediment in particular.

Let us begin, therefore, from the exposition of the good sediment; it is better, however, to say this from the most wise Hippocrates, and we shall make neither addition nor subtraction; for he sets it down, and defects are not according to nature. This, therefore, is the saying of the wise Hippocrates concerning that which is sediment according to nature.

Here he sets down the complete definition of sediment from white, smooth, and equal sediment.

Urine, however, is good when the sediment is both white, and smooth, and equal according to all time. And thus the wise man, existing as a friend of brevity, brought forth the definition from the content, containing substance and color as if they were particular things. We, however, shall add what was omitted by him, so that all who approach the letter may have joy not of just any kind. For many, indeed, not hearing the perfect definition, as if they are unwise, suppose the supreme expositor [is lacking]. Therefore, the perfect definition of that [urine] according to nature is such.

Here he declares the natural sediment according to its conditions.

Urine is good and praiseworthy when the sediment is white, and smooth, and equal through all time, according to a moderate substance, and [with] a color of red and reddish, and participating a little in something of redness. And because the definition signifies as such, it is necessary to look in the urine at these four: sediment, color, substance, and time. Let us say, however, what each one ought to be in each one of them.

That which is the sediment according to nature has a white color and a lower place, and is smooth, and undivided, and equal for many days remaining thus; for this is equal, preserved in time. Therefore, whichever of these four converts into the contrary, such as that which is according to nature of the sediment, either one or two, this is not according to nature. Just as before the composition we did above concerning substances and colors, so now, composing all things with the sediment, we must begin. We shall convert, however, from those things which they observe in the sediment: the last of all is equality, that with three remaining according to nature, the fourth is unequal.

What does a white sediment signify, and continuous, and unequal? This signifies an infirmity of the digestive strength. For nature could not entirely digest, but leaves...