302 EDEMA 



TABLE VI. (Spina bifida.) 



The percentage of solids in spina bifida is thus a little higher 

 than in normal raeningeal fluid. In hydrocephalus the per- 

 centage of solids is rather greater, as seen in Table VII. 



TABLE VII. (Hydrocephalus.) 



Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 



Water 986.78 984.59 980.77 



Solids 13.22 15.41 19.23 



Proteids and extractives .... 3.74 6.49 11.35 



Salts 9.48 8.92 7.88 



Normal cerebrospinal fluid seems to be hypertonic to the 

 serum of the same animal/ and is much less alkaline than the 

 blood (Cavazzani 2 ). According to Fuchs and Rosenthal, 3 the 

 average freezing-point of the cerebrospinal fluid is lowered about 

 the same in all diseases (A ~ 0.52 to 0.54) except in 

 tuberculous meningitis, where it is much less (average 0.43). 

 The amount of potassium is usually higher than in other body 

 fluids, according to Geoghegan the ash containing 20 to 30 per 

 cent, of potassium salts and but 15 per cent, of sodium salts. 

 The amount of proteid generally varies directly with the number 

 of cellular elements present in the fluid. 4 In diseases associated 

 with destruction of brain tissue, such as general paralysis and 

 epilepsv, cholin may be found in the spinal fluid. (See 

 " Cholin," Chap, iv.) 



Wound secretions obtained from large aseptic wounds, mostly 

 amputation stumps, have been studied by Lieblein. 5 The reaction is 

 generally alkaline, globulin and albumin abundant, but fibrinogen 

 scanty, total nitrogen being less than that of the blood and decreasing 

 from day to day ; the proportion of albumin increases and globulin 

 decreases as heal ing progresses. Occasionally albumoses were found, but 

 only on the first day in aseptic wounds ; if found later, they generally 

 were antecedent to suppuration (concerning suppuration see ' ' Inflamma- 

 tion," Chap. X.). 



1 Kavaut, Presse me"d., 1900 (8), 128 ; Zanier, Cent. f. Physiol., 1896 (10), 

 353. 



2 Cent. f. Physiol., 1902 (15), 216. 



3 Wien. med. Presse, 1904 (45), 2081 and 2135. 



4 Ke"non and Tixier, Compt. Kend. Soc. Biol., 1906 (60), 639. 



5 Beit. klin. Chir., 1902 (35), 43. 



