THE EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND BLOOD PLASMA

Abstract

In this paper we present a comparative study of the sugar, nonprotein nitrogen, chloride¹and protein in parallel samples of blood plasma or serum and cerebrospinal fluid, in eighty-nine instances, on fifty patients, ranging in age from 2½ to 65 years. In addition, the freezing point depression, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and total solids have been determined in some of the cases. The methods used were described in the first paper of this series.^1a In table 1 are thirty instances of such parallel examinations in cases of tuberculous meningitis, in all of which the diagnosis was proved by autopsy, by guinea-pig inoculation of the cerebrospinal fluid or by finding tubercle bacilli in the cerebrospinal fluid by smear. Table 2 is made up of eight instances of meningococcus meningitis, table 3 of eight instances of pneumococcus meningitis, table 4 of seven instances of streptococcus meningitis, table 5 of ten instances