VAh'lIJTIKH OF KDEMATOrx FfJ IDH 359 



VARIETIES OF EDEMATOUS FLUIDS -<:' 



On tilt' ])i-('c(Mliiiji- ])ag<'s liavc been mentioned the chief differences 

 in the characters of the effusions in the usual sites,"" with their varia- 

 tions in protfMii contents, which variation agrees with Starling's state- 

 ment tliat the |)('rmeal)ility of the capillary wall for proteins ditlt'ers 

 normally in different localities. Some of the other ett'usion fluids not 

 mentioned jjreviously have particular properties of some interest. 



Subcutaneous Effusions.'"^'' — When of non-inflammatory origin these 

 are very watery, having ordinarily a protein content of from 0.1 to 

 0.2 gm. per 100 c.c. tliere being more globulin in nei)hritic 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 

 1.00."), 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 results of analyses 

 of seventeen hydrocele fluids and four spermatocele fluids as follows: 



Table V 



Hydrocele Spermatocele 



Water 9,38.85 986.8.3 



Solids 61.15 13.17 



Fibrin 0.59 



Globulin 13.25 0.59 



Seralbumin 35.94 1.82 



Ether-extractive bodies . . 4.02 1 



Soluble salts 8.60 \- 10.76 



Insoluble salts 0.66 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 substances 48.8 to 95.02, and inorganic substances 8.10 to 9.56; pro- 

 teins, 33.5 to 90.19; ratio of globulin to albumin as 2.56 to 9.11. Among the 

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

 with the analytic results, tlie specific gravity of hydrocele fluid is higher. l.Olti to 

 1.026 as against 1.006 to 1.010 for spermatocele fluid. Cholesterol is often abun- 

 dant in hydrocele fluids, appearing to the naked eye as glistening scales. 

 Patein ^^ found sugar in most specimens of hydrocele. Apparently hydrocele fluid 

 stands intermediate in properties between transudates and exudates. -'3 



Meningeal Effusions.-'* — Normal meningeal fluid differs from all 

 other serons fluids in being clear and Avatery, in its low specific gravity 

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



80 Chemistry of Pus and Sputum are discussed under Inflammation, Chapter x. 



90 Literature and resume on pleuritic exudates, see Ott, Chem. Pathol, der 

 Tuberc, 1903, p. 392. 



noaSee Epstein, Jour. Exper. Med., 1914 (20). 334. 



91 Lo Sperimentale, 1902 (56). 297. 



92 Jour, pharm. et chim., 190(i (23), 239; also Conipt. Rend. Soc. Piol., 1906 

 (60), 303. 



93 Vecchi, Gaz. Med. Ital., 1912 (63 1, 211; Epstein, Jour. Exp. Med., 1914 (20), 

 344. 



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

 Lederer, Jour.Amer. Med. Assoc, 1913 (60)j 811, 



