396 RETROGRESSIVE CTIANGES 



and durinj; cloudy swelling is in support of this idea, and chemical 

 analysis of organs showing cloudy swelling gives definite evidence 

 of autolytic decomposition of the proteins and an increase in the water 

 content.^'' Presumably this increase in water is the cause of the low- 

 ered specific gravity of organs exhibiting parenchymatous degener- 

 ation.^° Landsteiner, through his studies of cloudy swelling in human 

 material, also came to the conclusion that autolysis is an important 

 element in its production. 



Martin H. Fischer ^^ applies the principles of colloidal chemistry 

 to the problem, and concludes that the changes of cloudy swelling 

 may be ascribed to acids developed in the cell. Electro-negative 

 proteins in the cell are precipitated by weak concentrations of acids, 

 fonning the granules in the cells, which can be dissolved again by a 

 stronger concentration of acid as in the characteristic clearing of 

 granular cells by acetic acid. The swelling is explainable by the 

 increased affinity for water of other cell proteins under the influence 

 of acids. This theory is supported by good experimental evidence 

 and has much in its favor, the chief question being whether the 

 blood cannot, under ordinary conditions of circulation, furnish suf- 

 ficient neutralizing salts to prevent adequate acidification in the cells 

 to cause cloudy swelling. 



35 Verb. Deut. Path. Gesell.. 1903 (6). 76. 



36 See Olsho, Arch. Int. Med., 1908 (2), 171. 



37 "Oedema and Nephritis," New York, 1915, p. 455; also Zeit. Chem. u. Indust. 

 Colloide, 1911 (8), 159. 



