THE OXIDIZING SUBSTANCE OP THE BLOOD-PLASMA. 141 



invariably found post-mortem in gouty subjects. The patho- 

 genic effects of these bodies have since then been emphasized 

 by several investigators, including Croftan, 10 who, in a series 

 of experiments, observed that "both xanthin and hypoxanthin, 

 when injected hypodermically in the strength of a 0.3- to 0.7- 

 per-cent. watery solution for a period of several months, pro- 

 duced granular degeneration of the epithelial cells lining the 

 tubuli contorti and a proliferation of the endothelium of the 

 intertubular capillaries." He also found, in confirmation of 

 the observations of Charcot, Binet, Coen, and d'Ajutolo, that 

 the renal lesions of chronic lead intoxication which, as shown 

 by Garrod, Lancereaux, and others, is one of the etiological 

 factors of gout are identically those caused by alloxuric bases. 



The non-toxic nature of uric acid and of urea, the violent 

 toxicity of the alloxuric bases, and the relative position of uric 

 acid to the latter, as the most highly oxidized body of the 

 series, seem fully to justify the view that the alloxuric bases 

 are converted from physiological toxics to uric acid, an inert body, 

 by oxidation. 



If the functions of the suprarenal glands are what they 

 are said to be in this work, the classical experiments of Min- 

 kowski, which showed that uric acid was almost entirely formed 

 in the liver, lose much of their weight. As will be remem- 

 bered, this investigator kept geese alive from six to twenty 

 hours after extirpation of the liver; their urine was then found 

 to contain but 2 or 3 per cent, of uric acid instead of the nor- 

 mal 60 or 70 per cent. If large doses of poisons produce 

 sudden suprarenal insufficiency, it is evident that the removal 

 of so important a toxic destroyer as the liver should promptly 

 cause in the system an accumulation of catabolic products 

 amply sufficient to overwhelm the adrenals in a short time. 

 Not only are Minkowski's experiments invalidated by this fact, 

 but all others performed since in which, by diverting the blood 

 from the liver into other channels, kindred results were 

 reached. This does not, however, eliminate the liver from 

 the field of activity; indeed, it takes a part in the protective 

 process commensurate with its position among organs as a 



10 Croftan : Loc. tit. 



