232 Freeman, Pincus, Elmadjian and Romanoff 



The trend is steadily downward over the four hour period. 

 There are no significant differences between the two groups of 

 subjects in this regard. A similar lack of differentiation has 

 been noted in younger groups (Hoagland et al., 1953). 



Ageing plays no role in the eosinophil response, the decrease 

 being of the same magnitude roughly at all ages (Solomon 

 and Shock, 1949). In view of the fact that the diurnal vari- 

 ation of eosinophils results in a decrease of approximately 

 21 per cent in the morning hours (Stevenson, Metcalfe and 

 Hobbs, 1953) and that the decrease seen above is about this 

 magnitude, the effect of the glucose as a cause of the eosino- 

 penia is somewhat doubtful. 



The values for the lymphocytes are shown in Table VI. 

 After the ingestion of glucose the lymphocytes show a drop 

 in values at the half-hour reading, which continues for the 

 next half hour and then returns almost to the original values 

 by three hours. These trends are similar in both groups of 

 subjects, indicating no difference in response. This is true 

 also for younger groups (Pincus et al., 1949). 



The lymphocyte response is, in the main, a mirror image of 

 the blood glucose tolerance trend. In the time relationship 

 to the glycaemic curve, the lymphocytes react more quickly 

 than the eosinophils. 



In the case of the 17-ketosteroid/creatinine ratios (Table VI) 

 the patients' initial values are higher (but not significantly so) 

 than those of the normal subjects, a finding also noted in 

 younger subjects (Pincus et al., 1949). In both normal and 

 schizophrenic subjects the values show a downward trend, 

 more steeply for the patients, so that the levels at the three- 

 hour reading are the same. In neither group is there any 

 indication of adrenocortical stimulation. The greater decrease 

 in values in the patients may be due to their initially higher 

 values, since there is a negative relationship (r= —0-60) 

 between the basal value and the absolute change at the 

 three-hour point. 



So far as ageing is concerned, the response to glucose 

 diminishes with increasing years. The younger normal 



