IN RELATION TO ZOOLOGICAL DISTINCTION. 



59 



Certain obscure yet obvious differences have been described in the 

 general microscopic appearances of the erythrocytes of different species, 

 differences which have been expressed by Johnson and by Wormley by the 

 term "stamp of individuality." 



The behavior of the erythrocytes of different species toward certain 

 reagents shows zoological peculiarities. Thus, Haldane, Makgill, and Mav- 

 rogordato (Journal of Physiology, 1897, xxi, 160) record that chlorates 

 enter the erythrocytes of man and the dog to form methemoglobin, but 

 not those of the mouse, guinea-pig, and rabbit. 



Other generic peculiarities have been pointed out by Up de Graf (The 

 Microscope, 1883, quoted by White, loc. cit.), who found that the corpuscles 

 of the dog rupture less readily than those of man when subjected to water. 

 Differences in the osmotic properties of erythrocytes of different species 

 have been recorded by different observers, and the differences in the osmotic 

 pressures of erythrocytes of different species are well known. 



The erythrocyte, in common with other protoplasmic structures, 

 energetically decomposes H 2 2 . Bergengruen (Inaug. Dissert., Dorpat, 

 1888; Maly's Jahresb. u. d.~Fort. d. Thierchemie, 1888, 271) has shown 

 that this property is due to the stroma, and, moreover, that the stromata 

 of the corpuscles of the bullock, horse, and dog showed marked differ- 

 ences in their energy. 



Studies of cytolysins and agglutinins show marked generic differences 

 in the erythrocytes : Dog's serum hemolyzes the erythrocytes of the chicken, 

 rabbit, sheep, ox, and guinea-pig. Horse serum is not hemolytic to chicken 

 corpuscles, but chicken serum is hemolytic to horse corpuscles. Rabbit 

 serum is not hemolytic to the corpuscles of the guinea-pig, bullock, or dog, 

 but it is slightly hemolytic to bullock corpuscles. Bullock serum is faintly 

 hemolytic to sheep corpuscles, and sheep serum is slightly hemolytic to 

 dog corpuscles. Eel serum is a general strong hemolytic. 



THE PERCENTAGES OF HEMOGLOBIN IN THE DRY ERYTHROCYTES IN 



RELATION TO GENERA. 



The dry corpuscles consist almost wholly of protein, most of which in 

 mammals and birds is hemoglobin. The proportion of hemoglobin varies 

 in the corpuscles of different species, the non-nucleated cells containing a 

 much larger percentage than the nucleated cells. The very limited data 

 at hand indicate that in mammals the percentage will range from about 

 85 to 95 per cent, according to Hoppe-Seyler and Jiidell (Med. chem. Unter- 



TABLE 22. The percentages of hemoglobin in the dried erythrocytes of different 

 genera, according to Hoppe-Seyler. 



