298 - Augusto Murri and the renal genesis of urea

Summary In 1873 the italian clinician Augusto Murri published in thescientific journal “Lo Sperimentale” a paper that examined the position of Samuel Rosenstein, professor of medicine at Leida University, ant that of Gaetano Primavera, clinical chemist in Naples hospital, about the theory of therenal genesis of urea. The two researchers’ experimental work had been published some years before and clearly showed that Rosenstein disagreed with that hypothesis whereas Primavera was a fervent upholder. In his review Murri examined the experimental work and the results of the two researchers and rejected both the theories, also on the basis of his personal research.The question about whether kidneys are simply blood filters or urea productors remained for the moment unsolved. Key-words: Urea, renal genesis of urea, Augusto Murri, Samuel Rosenstein, Gaetano Primavera.