METABOLISM AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIAL 233 



It is to be hoped that an extension of the viewpoint of M. H. 

 FISCHER, together with that of A. OSWALD will explain the problem 

 of inflammation, which has been so long kept at a dead center. 



We thus see that the science of colloids throws new light on the 

 most difficult portions of pathology, and that even therapy may 

 gaze with hope upon the young science. 



Salt Distribution. 



Just as the water content of a normal organ is relatively constant 

 and may undergo reversible changes due to changes in the condition 

 of the organ colloids, this is also true in the case of the salt content. 



Unfortunately the basis for the comprehensive explanation of 

 these questions is lacking (bibliography, see ALBU-NEUBERG *). The 

 values that have been obtained cannot be used for comparison. 

 Some have been derived from healthy and some (especially the de- 

 terminations on man) from sick individuals; moreover, age is a very 

 important factor. In the first place, it is essential to determine 

 accurately the limits within which the salt content in the separate 

 organs of normal individuals may vary. We know that muscle, 

 liver, blood corpuscles and brain are rich in potassium salts, while 

 in the blood serum and spleen, sodium salts predominate. 



In man the muscles contain 0.743 per cent of NaCl, the lungs, kid- 

 neys and skin 2.5 per cent. Sodium chlorid and water content do not 

 run parallel. The salt content varies within wide limits in different 

 species of animals. For instance, there is present in the ash of 



Ox blood 7. 4 per cent K 2 O 



Calf blood 11 . 2 per cent K 2 O 



Sheep blood 7. 1 per cent K 2 O 



Pig blood 20. 4 per cent K 2 O 



Chicken blood 18.4 per cent K 2 O. 



We should assume from our colloid-chemical knowledge, that a 

 given electrolyte content must correspond to each organ's condition 

 of swelling, though as yet this assumption offers but little towards 

 elucidating the problem. Pathological retention of common salt in 

 edema, see page 232, invites experimental study of the question. 



What has been said of animals is also true of plants. But here, 

 too, the salt content varies greatly with organ and sex, and we have 

 no basis for its true significance. For instance, it is merely neces- 

 sary to mention that the ash of wheat flour contains 0.76 per cent 

 Na^O, whereas that of buckwheat flour has 5.87 per cent N^O. 



The distribution of salts occurs similar to that of water; if they are 

 artifically introduced into the organism, they are stored up and again 

 released. If a dog received an intravenous injection of table salt, 

 28-77 per cent of the saline retained by the body accummulates in 



