URIC ACID AND THE PURINE BODIES 



683 



larger amount was also found present in whole blood that had been 

 allowed to stand for some time, indicating that the uric-acid compound 

 can be split by means of an enzyme. The compound exists in the cor- 

 puscles and not in the plasma. It is of some significance that after thus 

 setting free the uric acid, there should be about 50 per cent more of it 

 present in the blood of the ox than in that of the bird, where most exists 

 in a free state in the serum, although the urine of the ox contains only 

 the smallest trace of uric acid, and that of the bird is loaded with it. 

 Investigation of the condition of uric acid in human blood is at present 

 in progress. 



Uricemia in Gout and Nephritis 



The practical application of these observations is particularly impor- 

 tant in connection with the etiology of gout. In typical cases of this dis- 

 ease, the uric acid of the blood increases from its normal value of 1 to 

 3 mg. per cent to nearly 10 mg., indicating a considerable degree of 



URIC ACID, UREA N AND CREATININE OF BLOOD IN GOUT AND EARLY AND LATE NEPHRITIS 



(Myers and Fine: Arch. Int. Med., 1916.) 



