334 PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 



SPERMATIC FLUID. 



Specific gravity 1.0299 



Water 90.32 per cent. 



Dry substance 9.68 " 



Salts o.oo 



Proteins 2.09 " 



Ether extract 0.17 " 



Water and alcohol extracts 6.1 1 " 



The tables below show the calculations for dry substance 

 and the character of the ash : 



FOR DRY SUBSTANCE. ASH. 



Organic 90.81 per cent. NaCl 29.05 per cent. 



Inorganic 9.19 " KC1 3.12 " 



Proteins 24.48 " SO 3 11.72 " 



Ether extract . . . 2.15 " CaO 22.40 " 



Water and alco- P 2 O B 28.79 



hoi extract . . . 59.36 " 



The ash is peculiar in containing a large amount of sodium 

 chloride and calcium phosphate. The phosphoric acid is pres- 

 ent in larger amount than corresponds to the nuclein sub- 

 stances. 



The proteins are made up approximately as follows : 



Albumins 68.5 



Albumose-like bodies 21.6 



Nucleins 9.9 



A characteristic basic body known as spermine is present 

 in small amount. The empirical formula C 2 H 5 N has been 

 given to it. This substance forms a combination with phos- 

 phoric acid which sometimes separates in crystalline form on 

 evaporation of the fluid. The characteristic odor of the dis- 

 charged secretion is said to be due to partial decomposition of 

 the base. 



The spermatozoa are relatively stable bodies and resist the 

 action of chemical reagents to a remarkable degree. The 

 heads of spermatozoa consist largely of nuclein compounds 

 while the tails contain other proteins, cholesterol, fat and 

 lecithin. The ash content of the whole is relatively high and 

 is rich in potassium phosphate. 



