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kind. Indeed it seemed to me that a definite want would be 
supplied; for, in spite of an increasing importance in medicine, 
there was as yet no comprehensive book on all phases of the 
cerebrospinal fluid. 
FROM THE PREFACE 
Cerebrospinal fluid is of great physiologic importance for 
various reasons. It is the clearest and most transparent of all 
the fluids of the body. It is clearer than blood, than bile, and 
even clearer than urine, and under normal conditions experi- 
ments may be made on it without fear of clot formation or color 
change. Furthermore, cerebrospinal fluid, like blood and urine, 
can be removed from the living body without injury to the 
system. This gives one the opportunity of working with pro- 
cesses in the living body — a distinct advantage over the study 
of dead tissue. 
From the standpoint of pathology also, cerebrospinal fluid 
presents an exceptional opportunity for study. The slightest 
change in the color of the fluid, the smallest increase in the pro- 
tein content or in the cell count, all of which are easily discern- 
ible, indicate the presence of a pathologic process. One is able 
to follow the course of disease throughout all stages by noting 
the various changes the cerebrospinal fluid undergoes from time 
to time. These changes may be manifested not only by the 
presence of the causative organisms themselves, but just as 
frequently by specific physical, chemical, cytologic and physico- 
chemical processes. A close study of the changes in the cere- 
brospinal fluid under pathologic conditions throws light, not 
only on the specific diseases of the nervous system, but on the 
condition of other systems. One can readily see, therefore, how 
large is the scope for the study of cerebrospinal fluid. 
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