COMPOSITION OF EFFUSIONS 359 



tions in protein contents, which variation agrees with StarUng's state- 

 ment that the permeabiHty of the capillary wall for proteins differs 

 normally in different localities. Some of the other effusion fluids not 

 mentioned previously have particular properties of some interest. 



Subcutaneous Efifusions.^" — When of non-inflammatory origin 

 these are vcrj' watery, having ordinarily a protein content of from 0.1 

 to 0.2 gm. per 100 c.c, there being more globulin in nephritic than in 

 cardiac dropsy. The non-coagulable nitrogen and chloride content 

 are not so high as in the blood of the same patients, but the ash is the 

 same as that of the serum. The specific gravity may be as low as 

 l.OOo, but the solids increase with the duration of the edema. 



Hydrocele and Spermatocele Fluids. — These have been studied 

 particularly by Hammarsten, who found the average result of analyses 

 of seventeen hj'drocele fluids and four spermatocele fluids as follows: 



Table V 



Hydrocele Spermatocele 



Water... 938.85 986.83 



Solids 61.15 13.17 



Fibrin 0.59 



Globulin 13.25 0.59 



Seralbumin 35.94 1.82 



Ether-extractive bodies 4 . 02 ] 



Soluble salts 8.60 10.76 



Insoluble salts . 66 J 



Marchetti" found in ten specimens of hydrocele fluid rather higher results for 

 the solids than did Hammarsten. He found 57.8 to 104.2 p. m. of solids, contain- 

 ing organic sub.stances 48.8 to 95.02, and inorganic substances 8. 10 to 9.56; proteins, 

 33.5 to 90.19; ratio of globulin to albumin as 2.56 to 9.11. Among the pro- 

 teins is found 1 to 4 p. m. that is not precipitated by heat. Corresponding with 

 the analytic results, the specific gravity of hydrocele fluid is higher, 1.016 to 1.026 

 as against 1.006 to 1.010 for spermatocele fluid. Cholesterol is often abundant in 

 hydrocele fluids, appearing to the naked eye as glistening scales. Patein'^ found 

 sugar in most specimens of hydrocele. Apparently hydrocele fluid stands inter- 

 mediate in properties between transudates and exudates.'^ Usually it contains 

 but little of the immune bodies from the blood (Delrez).^* 



Meningeal Effusions. ^^ — Normal meningeal fluid differs from all 

 other serous fluids in being clear and watery, in its low specific gravity 

 (1.004 to 1.007), in containing but a trace of protein which is chiefly 

 globulin (with a trace of proteose (?) ), and 0.05-0.13 per cent, of a 

 reducing substance that is probably glucose, ^^ which is decreased in 



1° See Epstein, Jour. Exper. Med., 1914 (20), 334. 



11 Lo Sperimentale, 1902 (56), 297. 



12 Jour, pharm. et chim., 1906 (23), 239; also Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol., 1906 

 (60), 303. 



13 Vecchi, Gaz. Med. Ital., 1912 (63), 211; Epstein, Jour. Exp. Med., 1914 (20), 

 344. 



1^ Resume by Blumenthal, Ergeb. der Physiol., 1902 (1), 285; Blatters and 

 Lederer, Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 1913 (60), 811; Herrick and Dannenberg, ibid., 

 1919 (73), 1321; Levinson, Amer. Jour. Dis. ChUd., 1919 (18), 568; Becht, Amer. 

 Jour. Physiol., 1920 (51), 1. 



1* Schloss and Schroeder, Amer. Jour. Dis. Child., 1916 (11), 1; Hopkins, 

 Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., 1915 (150), 847. 



