LACTIC ACID. 97 



blood as to be capable of detection by chemical analysis. Scherer* 

 has paid especial attention to the occurrence of lactic acid in morbid 

 blood; he observed that, during an epidemic of puerperal fever, the 

 blood had often an acid reaction, and, as this fluid frequently con- 

 tained only free albumen and no albuminate of soda, it was clear 

 that it must contain a free acid. Scherer certainly did not demon- 

 strate the actual presence of lactic acid in the blood ; but, as he 

 actually separated lactic acid from the exudations which were simul- 

 taneously present, and recognised it by the form of its salts, we 

 cannot reject his conclusion that the acid reaction of the blood was 

 also due to lactic acid. I have only thrice observed an acid reac- 

 tion of the blood, and conditions similar to those described by 

 Scherer, namely, in a case of pyaemia in a man, and in the blood 

 of two women (from six to ten weeks after delivery.) In no case 

 could I obtain sufficient material to demonstrate the lactic acid with 

 certainty. 



The following experiments,t instituted on myself, exemplify the 

 rapidity with which the lactates in the blood are converted into 

 carbonates. Within thirteen minutes after taking half an ounce of 

 lactate of soda, (calculated as dry,) my urine had an alkaline reaction. 

 Moreover, that the conversion of the alkaline salts of the organic 

 acids into carbonates (as was first proved by Wohler) does not take 

 place in the primae vies, but in the blood itself, is proved by direct 

 experiments which I made on dogs, by injecting various quantities 

 of lactate of soda into the jugular vein; after five, and at 'latest 

 after twelve minutes, the urine exhibited an alkaline reaction. 



In opposition to the view that lactates exist in the blood, it has 

 been urged that the ash of blood has not an alkaline reaction, and 

 further, that it contains no alkaline carbonates. We have shown in 

 another part of this work that this observation of Enderlin's has 

 not been made or confirmed by any one who has preceded or suc- 

 ceeded him, (see "Ash of the blood",) but that, on careful incine- 

 ration, carbonated alkali always occurs in the blood; and even if 

 this were not the case, it would be no evidence against the presence 

 of lactic acid, since, on incinerating the blood, there is a combus- 

 tion of sulphur and phosphorus sufficient to saturate the alkali 

 previously combined with lactic acid. Further, carbonic acid is 

 expelled from the carbonate by ordinary phosphate of soda, which 

 is thus converted into tribasic phosphate of soda. 



* Untersuchungen zur Fathol. Wurzburg. 1843. S. 147-194. 

 t Jahresber. 1843. S. 10. 



