336 PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 



which only a few partial analyses have been recorded. Its 

 general character is shown by these figures recently given by 

 Zdorek : 

 . 1000 parts by weight contain 



Dry substance 10.45 



Organic 2.09 



Inorganic 8.36 



Proteins 0.77 



Chlorine 4.24 



Sodium oxide 4.29 



The organic substance includes traces of fats, lecithin, 

 cholesterol and, pathologically, choline or neurine. Common 

 salt, however, is the main solid substance in solution. 



MUSCLE AND ITS EXTRACTIVES. 



A large part of the solid portion of the body is made up of 

 muscular tissue. A knowledge of the composition of this 

 tissue is of the highest importance, especially since some of 

 the fundamental chemical reactions of the animal organism 

 take place within the cells of the muscles. Fortunately we 

 have fairly satisfactory information on some of the points of 

 interest here, as numerous analyses have been made of the 

 muscles and of the liquid which may be extracted in various 

 ways from them. 



The dry part of the muscle is made up largely of proteins 

 of which several are present; in the muscle plasma there are 

 at least five according to Halliburton. In addition to these 

 bodies there are a number of so-called extractives which play 

 an important part. 



GENERAL COMPOSITION OF MUSCLE. 



The following figures represent approximately the average 

 composition of the fresh muscle dissected free from visible 



fat. 



Water 76 per cent. 



Solids 24 



