324 TRANSUDATIONS. 



in the ordinary translations, but there is no direct proof that 

 this is the case_, since the quantities which we obtain for analysis 

 are generally too small to allow of an accurate search for sugar. 



In a kilogramme and a half [or nearly three pints and a half] 

 of the peritoneal transudation of a drunkard with granular liver 

 (a quantity which would have been quite sufficient for the deter- 

 mination of sugar, if it had been present in the same proportion as 

 in normal blood-serum), I sought in vain for this substance; but 

 after what has been already remarked (see p. 90) regarding the 

 formation of sugar in the liver, it is probable that the production 

 of sugar is interfered with in cases of hepatic disease, which might 

 account for its not being found in this case. 



We have already spoken (in vol. i., p. 166) of the occurrence 

 of urea in normal and excessive transudations. Since this sub- 

 stance has been found even in the aqueous humor as well as in 

 the liquor amnii, and has also been detected by C. Schmidt* 

 in the fluid exudation in a case of chronic hydrocephalus in 

 which no renal disease was present, we might fairly assume 

 that it occurs in the circulating blood, and escapes through the 

 walls of the capillaries in these parts with the w r ater and other 

 substances which permeate easily, and is then found in the 

 exudations in a quantity corresponding to the amount of urea in 

 the blood ; indeed, if the functions of the lymphatics were dis- 

 turbed, it might even accumulate in larger quantity, since in all 

 probability it passes through the animal membranes far more 

 readily than other organic substances, or at all events as easily as 

 the alkaline salts. Hence the reason why it is so frequently met 

 with in the transudations in renal affections is simply this, that 

 under these circumstances it accumulates in the blood in much 

 larger quantities than usual, and such as admit of being easily 

 detected. 



Marchandf once found 0*4 2-g- of urea in a peritoneal effusion 

 in a woman, which contained 4'78-- of solid constituents. 



Since urea is often found in such large quantities in the 

 exudations from the capillaries, we should naturally expect that 

 the other products of retrograde metamorphosis (whether as yet 

 detected or not in the blood), as for instance, hippuric acid, 

 creatine, uric acid, &c., would also occur there; but these, and such 

 like substances, have at all events not as yet been recognised in 

 such fluids by any analyst. It is more than probable that creatine 



Charakteristik der Cholera. S. 124. 

 t Journ. f. pr. Ch. Bd. 1 1, S. 458. 



