478 



blasts, and strong anisocytosis and polychromafopliilia. Tlie number 

 of red cells at this time was 3.700.000, tlie liaeinoglóbinconteiit 55. 

 So the index had increased distinctlj' and this increase remains very 

 marked during the course of injections. 



Twelve days after the first injection the number of red cells had 

 decreased again till 2.900.000 (Haemoglol)in (45), and the second 

 period of regeneration began. Now the blood picture demonstrated the 

 typical symptoms as they are found in distinct pernicious anaemia. 

 Especially macrocytosis, [)oikilocytosis, strongly disshaped corpuscles, 

 polychromatophilic megalocyts and normoblasts were striking. Bili- 

 rnbinaemia could only be traced in the rabbit in cases of strong 

 acute haemolyses. In the more chronic forms this phenomenon is 

 not observed, urobilin uria being very marked however. 



The rabbit is emaciated and makes a sick impression. If the 

 injections are stopped in the beginning, the anaemia may be cured ; 

 if the treatment is continued, the typical pernicious symptoms will 

 last. 



So there is no doubt, that intramuscular injection of linolenic 

 acid causes a chronic haemolytic anaemia in a short time, the red 

 picture of which is showing all typical marks of pernicious anaemia. 

 The picture of white cells has not yet been researched till now. We 

 shall have to make a more exact analysis of this anaemia by linolenic 

 acid, but it may be stated already, that linolenic acid is a very 

 severe haemolytic substance. As it was found in the previous com- 

 munications, we must ascribe this intravital action to the fact, that 

 the C'a soaps of higher unsaturated fatly acids are capillary active 

 and haemolytic, contrary to the Ca soaps of palinitinic acid and 

 oleic acid 



Now this acid, forming an important percentage of the phos- 

 pliatid fatty acids, it is practically certain, that the formerly used 

 praeparation of trade-lecithin could effect the described haemolytic 

 action by the rather large content of linolenic acid. Linolenic acid 

 is a substance, which is found in the biochemistry of fat and phos- 

 phatid metabolism and it is probable, that this acid is circulating 

 ill normal blood. 



In fact we were able to demonstrate by means of specific extraction, 

 that in the 0,6 — 0,7 mgr. of fatty acids, which are found in one ccm. 

 of normal human blood there is always present a small fraction 

 consisting of higher unsatured fatty acids. 



It appeared further, that all other fatty acids of the blood are 

 inactivated by serum, in regard to capillary active and haemolytic 

 action, but this small fraction of higher unsaturated fatty acids can 



