髄液比重の精密な新測定方法とその意義

A New Method for Precise Measurement of the Specific Gravity of Liquor and its Significance

　髄液は最近に至つて，再び諸研究家の注目を浴びるようになつた観があり，外国に於ても我国に於ても，その臨床，生理，病理等に関して，活溌に討議会が開かれ，各方面に進歩を遂げると同時に，更に新生面を開拓しようとしている現状である。

　しかるに髄液の比重に関しては，近年全く疑義の域外にあるごとく，論議の対象となつたと云うことを聞かない。そして又比重に就て多くを記している書籍も，殆んど見当らないところである。従来考えられている髄液比重のその正常値に於てすら，諸家の報告によれば可成り大きな差異があり，1.001〜1.010の開きがある程であつて，一般には1.006〜1.008と認められてはおるものの，何れをもつて正常となし何れをもつて病的となすべきをか，誠に迷わされるわけであるから，遂々軽視され勝ちになつて来ていた一面もあるのではなかろうか。

The cerebro-spinal fluid seems to have made a come-back as a theme of study by many re-searchers, but its specific gravity seems to ha-ve raised little question and to be outside the scope of any scientific discussion. There have appeared almost no book containing more th-an a very cursory note on its gravity. Such a neglect of the question may be attributed pa-rtly to the lack of uniformity in the values proposed as the normal specific gravity of the liquor by different authors. In consideration of such a paucity of data at present, the author of this paper was impressed by the necessity of conducting anew a precise measurement of the specific gravity of the liquor, under the conviction that an improved method of mea-surement may possibly arouse interest in the problem, finally leading to a reapraisal of the significance of the specific gravity.

Thus, I have made an investigation on the subject, applying the new precise method cal-led the N-N (NAKAZAWA-NAKAI's) dilution method, and found that the normal specific gravity of liquor is free of aberration to the extent as might be deemed mysteriously con-stant, an excess over the normal, ever so little, being indicative of a pathological state. Some cases of disease were discussed from this view-point. I earnestly hope that a new page would be turned in the field of its study, based on experiments, and the method would become an important instrument in clinical diagnoses and treatment.

This N-N dilution method requires only a small volume of the liquid of which the spe-cific gravity is to be measured, and is capable of higher precision in measurement than the h:ther to available methods. Thus, we can de-tect minute changes in the specific gravity of the liquor by this method. A very wide vari-ety of liquids may be measured by this me-thod, and of the vital humors the cerebro-spinal fluid is one of the fluids most suscepti-ble to this method.

The method is described in this paper with its application in measuring the specific gra-vity of the liquor as the main point, and a wo-rd has been inserted on the N-N dilution hydr-ometer devised for the purpose.