RESPIRATION IN SOUTHERN WHALES 



391 



Opportunity was taken to determine the consumption of oxygen which took place in 

 the blood during the experiments. It had been noticed that blood became appreciably 

 deoxygenated when it was aerated and left to stand for the determination of the pro- 

 gressive decrease in nitrogen content. This was perceptible by the change in colour of 

 the blood apart from the evidence of gas analysis. If pure nitrogen is supplied to blood 

 which has been deprived of oxygen there is no disappearance of nitrogen. 



The results of these experiments together with the volume of blood taken, oxygen 

 consumed, time, temperature, and ratio of nitrogen disappearance to oxygen consump- 

 tion are set out in Table V. The object of the experiments was to establish the fact of 

 nitrogen disappearance and not the rate, which could not be determined by such an 

 inefficient method of mixing blood and gases. 



Table V. Disappearance of nitrogen in adult and foetal whale blood. 



* Stale blood. f Pure nitrogen supplied instead of air. 



The considerable variation in volumes of nitrogen disappeaiance which is shown 

 bears no relation to the duration of the experiment. Consumption of oxygen is a notable 

 accompaniment and indicates catabolic activity in the blood. While it is impossible to 

 draw any conclusions from the nitrogen-oxygen ratio, it is thought that the ratios shown 

 against samples 78, 81, 83 F, 866, and 1080, b, and e are more significant than the rest, 

 since in these samples the blood, before being subjected to the experiment, was refreshed 



