offset the effects of not enough light and too much light. After he examines both conditions the doctor must use his best judgment, to make a diagnosis. Common diseases identified by uroscopic methods Diabetes In 1674 English doctor Thomas Willis submitted into medical literature a peculiar (and peculiarly found) relationship he'd observed: people with type 1 diabetes usually have sweet-tasting urine — this is due to an oversaturation of glucose in the blood, the excess of which is excreted out via urine, as the diabetic lacks sufficient insulin to process the high amounts of glucose. Jaundice Yellowish discoloration of the whites of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes caused by deposition of bilirubin in these tissues. It occurs as a symptom of various diseases, such as hepatitis, that affect the processing of bile. Also called Icterus. Doctors would test by using their vision. If the urine had a brownish tint then the patient would most likely have jaundice. Kidney disease The kidneys are supposed to filter excesses (especially urea) from the blood and excrete them, along with water, as urine. When they are not performing this task the patient has a kidney disease. The medical field that studies the kidneys and diseases affecting the kidney is called nephrology, from the Ancient Greek name for kidney. Doctors would test urine using a visual examination. If the urine was red or foamy, the patient had kidney disease. See also Urinalysis Urology References External links Library of Congress: Exploring Uroscopy in Early Medical Texts Nephrology Urine tests Physical examination Urine History of medicine