MEMOIRS OF TOE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



13 



blood previously effected by venom and it was found that the corpuscles retained the alteration 

 which had been produced by the venom. The calcium chloride solution apparently had no 

 influence whatever. Rabbits which had received the minimum fatal dose of venom were then 

 given an injection of calcium chloride solution near to the seat of the injection of the poison with 

 no e fleet. 



EFFECT OF POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE UPON VENOM AND HUMAN BLOOD. 



A saturated solution of potassium permanganate in water was brought in contact with human 

 blood. The erythrocytes remained almost normal in size, their biconcavity was retained, and all 

 the corpuscles were stained with the permanganate solution. The leucocytes were smaller, the 

 granules stained brown, and the ameboid movement was absent. When weaker solutions of 

 permanganate of potash were used the same effect is present only to a less degree. 



When venom was brought in contact with an equal quantity of blood, and an equal quantity 

 of the solution of potassium permanganate added to this mixture, the following changes were 

 noted: When the blood came in contact with the venom the usual changes occurred on the 

 addition of the potassium permanganate solution; the red corpuscles changed their globular form 

 and again became biconcave circular disks of normal size, and did not show any longer the marked 

 agglutination. This return of the corpuscles to almost the normal appearance will occur when 

 the potassium permanganate solution is added forty-five minutes after the mixture of the blood 

 and venom. 



When 1 per cent solution of potassium permanganate is used instead of the saturated 

 solution in the above experiment, the restoration ot the corpuscles to the normal is not nearly so 

 complete. 



When 1 per cent solution of potassium permanganate is brought in contact with a mixture 

 of blood and saline solution which contains 10 per cent venom, the effect of the permanganate is not 

 sufficient to entirely counteract the influence of the venom upon the corpuscles. The rapid 

 restoration of the affected corpuscles to the normal, or almost normal, condition by the addition of 

 the solution of potassium permanganate is certainly a remarkble and a very interesting fact. 



The rapid oxidation of the corpuscles may have some effect upon the neutralization of the 

 venom in the corpuscles, for when peroxide of hydrogen solutions of neutral reaction were used 

 in the place of the potassium permanganate solutions in the above experiments, almost the same 

 results were obtained. 



Immediate effect. 



24 hours later. 



48 hours later. 



Human blood 



Blood and saturated solu- 

 tion potassium permanga- 

 nate, equal parts. 



Blood and 1 per cent solu- 

 tion potassium permanga- 

 nate in water, equal parts. 



Blood and venom, equal 

 parts. 



Blood and venom and satu- 

 rated solution potassium 

 permanganate, equal parts. 



Blood and venom and 1 per 

 cent solution potassium 

 permanganate, equal parts. 



Blood and venom normal sa- 

 line solution containing 10 

 percent venom, equal parts. 



Blood and 10 percent venom 

 and saturated solution 

 potassium permanganate, 

 equal parts. 



Blood and 10 per cent venom 

 and 1 per cent solution 

 potassium permanganate, 

 equal parts. 



Xormal 



Erythrocytes slightly smaller; bieoin avity 

 retained; no rouieaiix ; stained a deep brown 

 color. Leucocytes smaller; do ameboid 

 movement; granules stained dark brown. 



Erythrocytes slightly smaller; many almost 

 colorless ; no crenation ; biconcavity re- 

 tained. Leucocytes smaller and no ame- 

 boid movement. 



Erythrocytes 3 to 5 in diameter; globular, 

 more refractive, adhering together, ductile, 

 and many have a chocolate hue. Leuco- 

 cytes smaller, more refractive at the border; 

 ameboid movement lost. 



Erythrocytes: When the blood comes in con- 

 tact with venom the usual changes occur; 

 but when the potassium permanganate solu- 

 tion is added the red corpuscles change 

 their globular form and agaiu become bicon- 

 cave, circular disks of normal size, and not 

 adhesive. Leucocytes: Xo ameboid move- 

 ment. 



Erythrocytes slightly smaller, globular, sep- 

 arate, and not adhesive. Leucocytes, non- 

 motile. 



Erythrocytes diminutive in size, almost as 

 great as when pure venom was used, but 

 corpuscles still slightly biconcave. Leuco- 

 cytes: Ameboid movement present. 



Erythrocytes: Corpuscles normal in size; no 

 crenation: no loss of biconcavity; not ad- 

 hesive. Leucocytes : Ameboid movement 

 stopped. 



Erythrocytes slightly smaller, darker, many 



f lobular; not adhesive. Leucocytes: Ame- 

 oid movement stopped. 



Crenated Crenated. 



Erythrocytes good shape; no Sunt-. 



crenation; slightly paler; 



no signs of degeneration. 



Homogeneous mass. 



Erythrocytes losing color ami 

 beginning formation of ob- 

 long crystals; where the cor- 

 puscles are thick they Mill 

 retain their adhesiveness. 



Same 



Same 



Erythrocytes same. Leuco- 

 i \ tes : Ameboid movement 

 still continues. 



Erythrocytes same 



Broken down. 



Erythrocytes: C renat ion. 

 Leucocytes : Ameboid 

 movement stoppod. 



Same. 



