150 EXUDATIONS. 



inflicted upon eight rabbits in the manner already described : as 

 soon as it began to flow free from blood-corpuscles, 100 parts of 

 the solid residue contained (as was determined by direct incinera- 

 tion) 12*341 of mineral substances (the solid residue of the serum 

 and of the fibrin yielding 9*97l) ; 100 parts of the salts of the 

 secretion from the wounds yielded 41'145 parts of chlorine, 5*819 of 

 phosphoric acid, and 6*941 of potash, whilst from that of the liquor 

 sanguinis there were obtained 53*145^ of chlorine, 2*014^ of phos- 

 phoric acid, and 4*814 of potash. In the solid residue of the 

 secretions from the wounds in three geese there were 15*148^ 

 of mineral substances (in that of the liquor sanguinis there were 

 11*155^) ; 100 parts of the salts of the wound-secretion contained 

 7*018 of phosphoric acid and 7*147 of potash, whilst in those 

 of the corresponding liquor sanguinis there were 3*118 of phos- 

 phoric acid and 4'663 of potash. Several experiments of a similar 

 nature, conducted by my pupils, yielded analogous results. It has 

 already been observed that the secretion from a wound does not 

 long retain the character of a fresh exudation, but that it soon 

 exhibits morphological elements, molecular granules, nuclei, and 

 even cyto'id corpuscles, when the edges of the wound do not 

 cohere, that is to say, when the wound does not heal per primam 

 intentionem. Ifc may therefore be assumed that the exudation, as 

 soon as it has become pus, will exhibit a different composition from 

 the fresh wound-secretion, which may be able to produce tissue, 

 but cannot generate abortive cells (that is to say, pus-corpuscles). 

 A similar mode of reasoning has led to the assumption that the 

 first secretion from a wound which is free from blood may perhaps 

 contain a sufficient quantity of phosphates and potash-salts to 

 restore the integrity of the injured tissue, whilst the later secretion 

 very probably contains only enough salts to form cyto'id corpuscles, 

 but not a supply adequate for the formation of perfect cells or 

 fibres. It happens very frequently, however, that the idea we have 

 been led to entertain of the plan adopted by nature does not 

 coincide with actual observation. At all events, the limited ex- 

 periments which I have been able to make, and which were 

 restricted to rabbits, do not confirm such assumptions. The ash 

 of pus always contains a larger amount of phosphates and potash- 

 salts than the intercellular fluid of the corresponding blood, 

 although when compared with that of the fresh secretion from a 

 wound it exhibited a very variable amount of these salts. This 

 relation, which requires to be confirmed by further observations, 

 can scarcely excite surprise, for there is undoubtedly something 



