70 



Chapter V 



would occur if the influence of the CO 2 were simply to cause a greater 

 or less degree of adsorption of the haemoglobin. It is of interest 

 to record that the influence of CO 2 is as evident at low temperatures 

 as at high ones. In this respect there is a sharp contrast between the 

 effect of CO 2 and also of the acids engendered by oxygen want, and 

 the effect of oxygen want itself (a vacuum), on the reaction 



Hb + 2 ^: HbO. 2 . 



0025 



0020 



0015 



0010 



0005 



0004 



0003- 

 00020 

 -00010 



Too 



FIG. 37. Ordiuate = K. Abscissa = C0 2 pressure in mm. Oxyhaemoglobin. x CO- 

 haemoglobin. (Left hand = oxyhaemoglobin, right hand = CO-haemoglobin.) 



The reduction of the haemoglobin by the acids goes on both at 37 C. 

 and at room temperature with equal activity, but the reduction of 

 haemoglobin by a vacuum is so slow at low temperatures that one is 

 tempted to conceive of the presence of acids rather than of absence 



