LIQUOR AMNII. 361 



[Four specimens of liquor amnii examined by Dr. Rees 1 , ex- 

 tracted from four individuals in the 7J month of pregnancy, 

 contained the same constituents. The specific gravity varied 

 from 1008-6 to 1007. They were alkaline, contained urea, and the 

 same salts as occur in the blood. One specimen contained : 



Water ...... 984-98 



Solid constituents ..... 15*02 



Albumen with traces of fatty matter . . .1-80 



Extract soluble in water { ^gL ic matte r, chiefly albumen I' 22 } 6 ' 02 



I" Salts . . 2-80] 



Do. soluble in water and alcohol < Organic matter, chiefly I 7'20 



(_ lactic acid and urea 4-4 J 



The caseous matter floating in the liquid contained cho- 

 lesterin. 



The liquor amnii at the full time has been recently analysed 

 by Mack, 2 who obtained two specimens for examination from 

 Dr. Mikschik. The fluid in both cases was perfectly pure, the 

 membranes being ruptured as they projected from the external 

 organs. 



The quantity of the fluid in the first case amounted to a little 

 more than an ounce and a half; it was turbid, with white flocculi 

 of vernix caseosa in suspension ; it had a sickly odour, and a 

 faintly saline taste. Under the microscope there were seen 

 isolated mucus- corpuscles, with pavement and ciliated epithelium. 

 The specific gravity was 1006-3, and the reaction faintly alkaline. 

 The fluid coagulated slightly on heating, and became covered 

 wjth a thin membrane during evaporation. 



The amount of fluid obtained in the second instance was 

 slightly above two ounces ; the specific gravity was 1004-7 ; the 

 reaction alkaline ; and the other physical characters the same 

 as in the former case. In 1000 parts there were contained : 



1 Phil. Mag. (3d series) vol. 13, p. 395. 



2 Heller's Archiv fur physiol. und pathol. Chemie und Mikroskopie, vol. 2, p. 218. 



