The Microscope. 171 



the spectroscope gave the bands of reduced hismatin. (See diagram 



No. 5.) 



REDUCTION OF THE QUANTITY OF HEMOGLOBIN IN VARIOUS DISEASES. 



The pallor and short breath peculiar to Bright' s disease, point 

 to a retrogressive metamorphosis, possibly to a necrosis of blood 

 corpuscles. This would of course, reduce the amount of hfemaglobin. 

 Which would not serve the purposes of haemoglobin in a free state, would 

 act as a foreign body in the system, and which would, unless elimin- 

 ated, act inimically to the integrity of life. 



We know already that a reduction of hsemoglobin means also a 

 reduction of oxygen, and it is easy to understand and explain the 

 dispnoea invariably present in this disease. 



There are other diseases in which we find the red corpuscles of 

 the blood greatly reduced. In chlorosis this reduction, according to 

 Pryer, Simeron and Sabatin, often reaches down to five, and even 

 four, per cent. ; in leucremia to six per cent. 



The same authorities found the quantity of red corpuscles, 

 (consequently, of haemoglobin) very low in scirrhosis of the liver, and 

 also in pyaemia. I have observed such diminution, also, in scarletina. 



The " Centralblatt fur die Medicinsche Wissenschaften," 1872, 

 No. 22, mentions cases in which, in cancerous disease, the quantity 

 of hsemoglobin was twice as much as normal. 



Changes in the relative healthy proportion of haemoglobin are 

 also found in phthisis, pernicious anaemia, typhoid and other 

 fevers, in erysipelas, pui'purea haemorrhagica and other diseases. 



There is a field where more strict investigation is required, and 

 a rich harvest awaits diligent microscopic, as well as spectroscopic 

 research. 



What is the effect of microbic life direct upon the blood? 

 What is the deathly eiJect upon the blood life in cholera, yellow fever 

 and other kindred diseases that have decimated and depopulated the 

 earth again and again? 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 

 Fig. I. Haemoglobin crystals from blood of Man. 

 Fig. II. Venous- blood crystals from spleen of Man. 

 Fig. III. — (V, a) Haemin, artificially produced. 

 Fig. IV. Haematoidin (after Virchow). 

 Fig. V. (6) Blood-crystals from Guinea pig. 

 Fig. VI. Blood crystals from Squirrel. 

 Fig. VII. Blood crystals from Fish. 



