The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
In humans, urine is a mixture of 2-4% urea, some salts, bile pigments (coloring), poisons, drugs, and hormones. The remainder of the solution is excreted water. The exact composition of urine is dependent upon diet, level of activity, and general health. If excess water is consumed, the urine is dilute, and after exercise it is concentrated. A normal adult will produce approximately 1.5l of urine per day.
The chemistry of urine is basically that of urea and as such it has been used in the production of dyes, as a fertilizer, as a food supplement for sheep, and in the production of urea formaldehyde resins. Urine has historically been used in dyeing materials until around 1828, when the commercial production of urea was first introduced.
In alternative medicine, urine is considered a curative for a variety of medical conditions. It is believed that the first urine of the day should be consumed for health purposes. Some also advocate bathing in urine to cure skin ailments. There is no hard scientific evidence to support such practices, although when it first leaves the body urine is a sterile liquid.