70 J- Lindhard. 



sponding temperature curves — which also have three maxima — 

 before the three principal meal-times. Taken in conjunction with 

 what has been shown above with regard to the influence of the 

 meal-time on the number of leucocytes, this does not mean that we 

 find the maximum of the number of leucocytes before the meal- 

 times; but it means that the number of leucocytes increases towards 

 the meal-time, culminates at its end and then falls again, as a rule 

 quite suddenly. Isolated observations would indicate that this rise 

 before the meal-time does not occur if one is not hungry. 



On the days represented by the first two curves, the 3 principal 

 meal-times occurred at 8 a.m., 12 and 5 p.m.; the last is the usual 

 "dinner". In the case of the other curves dinner occurred at 6 p.m. 



The same form of curve is easily found again in curve 3 on 

 remembering that the last meal-time was later. If we imagine the 

 curve shortened by cutting out the part from 2 — 4 p.m., the resem- 

 blance becomes striking. The curves 5, 6 and 8 are likewise regular 

 curves with 3 maxima, the form of which, when regard is paid to 

 the different times for the samples and the distance of these from 

 the meal-times as also to individual differences, supports the view 

 that it is not the digestion but the meal-time which is the cause of 

 the increase of the leucocytes in the capillary blood. Curve 7 differs 

 mainly by the high value at 10 a.m.; this observation was taken 

 immediately after defæcation under for the rest normal conditions. 

 More important differences from the accepted norm is only shown 

 by curve 4, the deviations in which I am unable to explain from 

 the few notes taken. On the Expedition the first of the day's meals 

 was unusually solid and was taken immediately after dressing; per- 

 haps it was the getting up for this meal, which has as a rule given 

 me higher morning values than were obtained 2 hpurs later. 



If we consider the variations in the number of leucocytes from 

 day to day^ any endeavour to connect these with the variations in 

 the pulse-pressure will be unsuccessful; nor have I been able to find 

 the connection with the temperature, which Kjer-Petersen believes 

 he has noticed. 



As the following plan shows, however, there is an obvious paral- 

 lelism between the variations in the diastolic blood-pressure and 

 calibre of the arteries on the one hand and the number of leuco- 

 cytes on the other. The three curves given are from three different 

 persons. The first, L., was examined daily, while fasting, for about 

 4 weeks; after dressing he had a walk of some hundred yards to 

 the laboratory. Daily measurements were taken of the pulse, calibre 

 of the arteries, blood-pressure and number of the leucocytes. Enu- 

 meration of the different kinds of leucocytes in stained preparations 



