PERSPIRATION. 143 



has shown that whenever the secretion has an odor of this 

 kind its reaction is distinctly alkaline ; and he is disposed to 

 regard its peculiar characters as due to a mixture of the secre- 

 tion of the other follicles found in these situations. 1 Some- 

 times the sweat about the nose has an alkaline reaction. In 

 the axillary region, the secretion is rather less fluid than on 

 the general surface and frequently has a yellowish color, so 

 marked, sometimes, as to stain the clothing. The odor is 

 probably due to the presence of volatile, odorous compounds 

 of the fatty acids, like the caproates, the valerates, or the 

 butyrates ; but the presence of these principles has never 

 been accurately determined. 



1 DONNE, Court de microscopie, Paris, 1844, p. 207. 



