SALTS. 325 



occurs in the liquor amnii, for Scherer obtained from it, by means 

 of chloride of zinc, a substance very similar to Pettenkofer's 

 creatine and zinc compound. 



In addition to the salts formed by the combination of the 

 alkalies with fatty acids (the soaps), the transudations likewise con- 

 tain other organic-acid salts ; the alkali in them is certainly for the 

 most part in combination with the albumen, but, as has been already 

 mentioned, we sometimes find no albuminate of soda in the 

 transuded fluid, and yet the ash is rich in alkaline carbonates : 

 indeed, every transudation, if it only contains this alkaline albu- 

 minate, also contains other compounds of alkalies with organic 

 acids, which dissolve readily in spirit, and impart to the alcoholic 

 extract its well-marked hygroscopic properties. If the spirituous 

 extract has been freed as completely as possible from fat and fatty 

 acids, we yet always obtain carbonates on incineration. But what 

 the acid is, and whether there are more acids than one, are points 

 which cannot be determined in consequence of the small quantity 

 of the substance or substances in question in the transudation, and 

 even in its solid residue. We should be somewhat inclined to 

 believe that this acid in combination with an alkali might be 

 lactic acid,, since this acid must at all events pass from the muscles 

 into the blood, and must likewise be conveyed to the blood by the 

 process of digestion. Those disturbances of the circulation on 

 which excessive transudations depend, are usually associated with 

 a diminished interchange of gases in the lungs, and consequently a 

 less regular oxidation of the combustible constituents of the 

 blood : hence it is very probable that under such conditions 

 alkaline lactates make their way through the capillaries in excessive 

 quantity, and that the absolute and relative augmentation of the 

 alcoholic extract (as well as of its ash) in the transudation, as com- 

 pared with the blood-serum, depends on its larger quantity of 

 lactates. If the blood becomes acid, as Scherer* has shown to be 

 the case in many forms of puerperal fever, it is very natural that 

 the transudations should also contain a free acid; in these cases, 

 Scherer has convinced himself, by direct analysis, of the presence 

 of lactic acid. In a transudation of this nature he found 0'105-g- of 

 free hydrated lactic acid. 



We do not meet with true acid transudations, except when the 



blood previously contains a free acid ; for, in the first place, it is 



improbable that the walls of the capillaries should, during the act 



of simple transudation, possess the power of decomposing the salts 



* Untersuch. z. Pathologic. S. 147194. 



