Rhinoceros' Urine in Hindu Medicine

To the Editor, " Indian Medical Gazette." Sin,?Some years ago, in the Calcutta Zoological Gardens. I noticed some men collecting the urine voided by one of the rhinos, and measuring it out in bottles. On enquiry from Mr. Sanyal, the resident manager, I was informed that the rhino's urine was in great demaud for the treatment of enlarged spleen and chronic fever, and that its sale contributed annually a considerable amount to the revenue of the Gardens. Mr. Sanyal kindly sent me a sample of the urine, which I found to present the following characters about two hours after it had been passed : ? Urine clear, very pale, almost colourless; sp. gr. 1,000; slightly alkaline reaction ; phosphates abundant ; chlorides in small amount ; ammonia present in free state, and also as ; urate and carbonate, no albumen ; 110 sugar. From the foregoing it would seem that thi3 urine is used for its stimulating properties, on account of its containing ammonia ; but why an animal so seldom captive or accessible to villagers should have been selected for such a purpose, and the origin of the belief of the efficacy of its urine, is not at all evident. Perhaps some of your readers can enlighten us on the subject.