CHAP. V.] THE LYMPH AND CHYLE. TRANSUDATIONS. 233 



The constancy of composition presented by successive dropsical 

 translations into the same sac is well exemplified by the two following 

 series of analyses 1 . 



I. Analyses of fluid removed from the pleural and peritoneal cavities 

 on two separate occasions (Scherer). 



Fluid from Pleura. Fluid from Peritoneum. 



II. Analysis of the fluid removed from the peritoneal sac in a case of 

 Cirrhosis of the Liver (Hoppe-Seyler 2 .) 



1st Paracentesis. 2nd Paracentesis. 



Water in 1000 parts 984-50 982-53 983-33 



Solid matters 15-50 17-47 16-67 



Albumin 6-17 773 6'11 



Ethereal extract 0'34 0'16 0'25 



Alcoholic extract 0'24 0-56 2'16 



Aqueous extract 0'67 1'12 0'84 



Inorganic salts, soluble 8'30 7'99 8'05 



insoluble 0-16 0-14 0'19 



Errors of analysis 0'38 0'23 0'93 



Pressure of liquid in ) =23 '5 mm. 25 '25 mm. 



peritoneal cavity J of mercury. of mercury. 



General Characters of Dropsical Fluids. 



Resemblance Dropsical fluids always present more or less resem- 



to diluted blance to diluted liquor sanguinis. In most cases where a 



Liquor San- serous sac which contains the liquid is not inflamed, 

 this does not coagulate spontaneously, but does so on 

 the addition of fibrin-ferment. The transudations of an inflamed 

 serous membrane, on the other hand, which are rich in formed elements, 

 yield spontaneous coagula of fibrin. 



TheProteids Whether coagulating spontaneously or not, the trans- 



contained in udations which accumulate within serous sacs contain 



dropsical ac- some flbrinogen, as evidenced by the formation of a 



cumulations. coagu i um on tne addition of fibrin-ferment, or on 



heating to 56 59 C. Serum-globulin and serum-albumin are 



1 These Analyses are transcribed from pages 602 and 603 of Professor Hoppe- 

 Seyler's Physiologische Chemie. 



2 Hoppe-Seyler, Virchow's Archiv, Vol. ix. (1856) p. 250. 



