506 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



figures given by Zacharjewsky are O603 grm. per day in primi- 

 parae, and 0-531 grm. in multipart. Boni states that it is almost 

 normal in amount, but his figures are considerably lower than 

 the average given by Magnus-Levy for a mixed diet. 1 Boni 

 observed a diminution in the purine bases which varied between 

 4-7 and 6'8 per cent. 2 



V. Leersum 3 states that in 40 per cent, of pregnant women 

 on the usual hospital diet, the amino-acid nitrogen amounts to 

 over 10 per cent, of the total nitrogen, whereas it varies between 

 2 -7 and 7 '7 per cent, in the non-pregnant. The maximum 

 is usually reached before birth, and there is a decrease later. 

 Sometimes the maximum does not occur till after birth, but 

 the acids may then be derived from the involution of the uterus. 

 The results, according to this investigator, argue for a dis- 

 turbance of the liver even in apparently normal pregnancies, 

 its power of splitting off ammonia from and oxidising the amino- 

 acids being impaired. 4 



The albuminuria of pregnancy in the human female is not 

 strictly physiological. Regarding its frequency very varying 

 figures have been given, ranging from 5 per cent, to 60 per cent. 

 It appears in the second half of pregnancy, gradually increases 

 up to the time of birth, and quickly decreases in the puerperium. 

 In 50 per cent, of the cases it has already disappeared on the 

 fourth day after labour. The protein is of renal origin, and in 

 a typical case amounts to 0*01 to 0-05 per cent. That it is not 

 due to mechanical pressure on the renal vessels or ureter, or to 

 increased intra-abdominal pressure, seems certain. Nor has any 

 definite proof been given of the influence of a toxin arising in the 

 foetus, and causing degeneration of the renal epithelium. Veit 5 



1 As uric acid is derived in part from the nucleins of the food, no 

 conclusions can be drawn from its estimation on an unknown diet. 



2 The average value is 8 per cent, on a mixed diet. 



3 V. Leersum, " Die Ausscheidung von Aminosauren wahrend der Schwang- 

 erschaft," Biochem. Zeitechr., 1908 ; Fest. f. Hamburger. 



4 It has not yet been proved that the liver is the only organ which 



-s this function. The placenta itself is stated to contain a desamidase 

 (Savare, " Zur Kenntnis der Fermente der Placenta," Hofmeister'a Beitr., 

 vol. ix., 1907 ; see also p. 482), hence the increase in amino-acid nitrogen 

 may be due to a disturbance of placental function. 



5 Veit, " Ueber Albuminuric in der Schwangerschaft," Berlin, klin. 

 Woch., 1902. 



