1397 
In 4 of them we found comperatively much SHb., in 13 a 
small quantity and in 9 none at all. A quantitative determination 
by gas-analysis and a Fe-determination in a rabbit with marked 
S-band yielded the result: 
aorta-blood . . . .°10:5-°/,. 
vena-porta blood 12.5 °/,. 
Now let us revert to the original question, why in the serum from 
our patients (and the same will be the case with rabbits) so little 
H,S is found with a more or less marked S-band., whereas in cadav- 
eric blood the opposite ratio reveals itself. In my opinion this should 
be interpreted as follows; the H,S that is taken up from the colon 
by the blood, is first distributed over corpuscles and serum. In the 
corpuscles it forms a solid compound, SHb, which does not dissociate, 
consequently it does not give off H,S in the lungs. [t is most likely 
destroyed slowly and removed from the blood, presumably together 
with the remaining Hb-molecule. It is quite different with the H,S 
in the plasma, which is there combined with alkali in solution. 
Soon an equilibrium will be established between the gases dissolved 
in the serum and those of the alveolar air, and since the alveolar air 
is constantly refreshed by respiration and the atmospherical air does 
practically not contain H,S, the H,S dissolved in the plasma will escape 
from it. In serum or tissues part of it will be destroyed by oxydation. 
Thus, in consequence of this process and of the respiration the serum 
will, with the exception of a few traces only, be liberated from H,S. In 
cadaveric blood more and more of H,S is taken up by the blood as 
putrefaction progresses. Here again H,S is distributed over corpuscles 
and serum. But respiration and oxydation are absent, the blood is 
locked up in the vessels, so the dissolved H,S is not withdrawn 
from the liquid. The quantities of H,S dissolved in the serum are 
large enough to be demonstrated by the sensitive chemical reaction. 
At the cadaveric temperature the quantity does not suffice to convert 
Hb into SHb within a given lapse of time. With progressing putre- 
faction and longer duration of the action the Shb-spectrum will 
reveal itself. 
In the course of our inquiry we saw three more patients, in 
whom we noted marked Shb-aemie, consequent on a slowed 
passage of the contents of the colon. The fact that sulphaemo- 
globinaemia proved to be of more frequent occurrence than we had 
originally supposed, and especially the otber fact that this blood 
anomaly to a certain percentage, occurs in otherwise healthy rabbits, 
enhance the significance of the results recorded in this paper. 
