TRANSUDATES. 3^7 



due to other bodies, as in blood-serum. A reducing, non-fermentable 

 substance has been found by PICKARDT in transudates. The sugar is 

 generally dextrose, but levulose seems to have been found l in several 

 cases. Sarcolactic acid has been found by C. KULZ 2 in the pericardial 

 fluid from oxen. Succinic acid has been found in a few cases in hydrocaie 

 fluids, while in other cases it is entirely absent. Leucine and tyrosine 

 have been found in transudates from diseased livers and pus-like trans- 

 udates w r hich have undergone decomposition, and after autolysis. Among 

 other extractives found in transudates must be mentioned allantoin 

 (MoscATELLi 3 ), uric acid, purine bases, creatine, inosite, and pyrocate- 

 chin (?). 



The division of the nitrogenous substances in human transudates 

 and exudates has so far been little studied. OTORi 4 found that no 

 essential difference exists between serous exudates and transudates in 

 regard to the quantity of urea and amino-acids. The amount of total 

 nitrogen and proteins runs parallel with the specific gravity, and the same 

 is generally true for the absolute values for amino-acid nitrogen and purine 

 nitrogen. The amino-acid nitrogen and the urea nitrogen in pus is 

 greater as the specific gravity rises, but not in serous exudates and transu- 

 dates. 



The investigations upon the molecular concentration have shown 

 that no essential and constant difference exists between exudates and 

 transudates. The osmotic concentration and the concentration of the 

 electrolytes are as a rule the same as in blood-serum, although sometimes 

 rather divergent results have been found. The concentration of the 

 electrolytes shows according to BoDON, 5 like the blood-serum, much less 

 variation than the total concentration. The alkalinity determined by 

 titration is about the same in transudates and exudates, and is equal 

 to that of the blood-serum. The determination of the HO ion concen- 

 tration has shown that the transudates and exudates in this regard are 

 about as neutral as the blood-serum (Bo DON) . 



As above stated, irrespective of the varying number of form-elements 

 contained in the different transudates, the quantity of protein is the most 

 characteristic chemical distinction in the composition of the various 

 transudates; therefore a quantitative analysis is of importance only 

 in so far as it considers the quantity of protein. On this account, in the 



1 Pickardt, Berl. klin. Wochenschr., 1897. See also Rotmann, Munch, med. Woch- 

 enschr., 1898; Neuberg and Strauss, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 36. 



2 Zeitschr. f . Biologic, 32. 



3 Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 13. 

 * Zeitschr. f. Heilkunde, 25. 



5 Pfluger's Arch., 104, where the literature on this subject may be found. 



