270 Formulas of Acid Exeretion 
the found CO, would be less than 5 volumes per cent,? or consid- 
erably less than the average deviation found by the best of the 
above laws. 
From this brief analysis we must therefore conclude that the 
Ambard type of formula cannot be regarded as a quantitative 
relationship between the variables of acid excretion, and that no 
mathematical expression so far devised can lay claim to even a 
moderate degree of accuracy as such. Furthermore, it seems 
obvious that such formulas constantly give the impression of 
mathematical accuracy where none exists, and that their use is 
apt to prove misleading to the many who are inclined to accept 
them without question. 
SUMMARY. 
In criticism of the application of the Ambard type of formula 
to acid excretion, it is shown that: 
1. Substitution of constants for certain of the variables leads 
to an improvement in the calculated results. 
2. The average deviation of calculated from found values of 
plasma CO, is much greater than would result from maximal 
additive errors in all the determinations involved. 
Dos 
2Under the influence of the assumed errors the quantity ye VC 
0.975 W No.975 W” 
(38) 2 ve VC, or 1.06 V2 VC. 
From this source the error in volumes per cent of calculated CO, 
1.05 .D 
becomes qe 1.05.) simplifying which we obtain 
; Dice ; 
will thus be 6 per cent of V2 C. Allowing also a 6 per cent error in 
the CO, determination, the greatest possible maximal deviation will be 
0.06 (co, + 2 i °) , and since by the given law CO, + \2 V C= 80, 
this becomes 4.8 volumes per cent. 
