OF DISEASE. 495 



the serum was then entirely colourless, had an alkaline reaction 

 and a specific gravity of 1010. 

 In 1000 parts there were : 



Clot .... 1878 



Serum .... 981-22 



And there were contained in the fluid : 



Water ^ 986-800 



Solid constituents . . . 13-200 



Fibrin . . . .0-134 



Extractive matter, an imponderable quan- 1 4.926 



tity of albumen, and urea . . J 



Fixed salts 8-840 



c. The serous fluid obtained in another case, hy incisions in 

 the leg, was turbid, of a dirty yellow colour, and deposited a 

 flocculent sediment, consisting for the most part of epithelium- 

 scales, with a little pus and a few crystals of ammoniaco-mag- 

 nesian phosphate. The reaction was strongly alkaline, and 

 the specific gravity 1010. 



There were contained in 1000 parts : 



Water .... 975-20 



Solid constituents . . . 24-80 



Albumen . . . .5-42 



Extractive matters, salts, free and saponified 1 */ 



fat, and urea . . . [ 6 ' 7b 



Fixed salts . . . 15-62 



We shall revert to this subject, in relation to the composition 

 of the blood and urine, in the Appendix.] 



I have analysed the fluid obtained from a hydrocele ; it was 

 remarkable for the large amount of cholesterin contained in it; 

 it was of a yellow colour, devoid of odour, alkaline, and sparkled 

 when shaken, in consequence of the numberless crystals of 

 cholesterin suspended in it. The amount of solid constituents 

 was larger than I have ever observed in any other serous fluid 

 of a similar nature. The amount of salts, composed principally 

 of chloride of sodium, is also very remarkable. 



This fluid contained : 



