385 
sorption spectrum. I submitted frog’s red corpuscles to the 
action of CO in the gas-chamber, but obtained no change 
of form whatever, though the carbonic oxide had acted on 
the hemoglobin within the corpuscles, as demonstrated by 
the microspectroscope. On passing carbonic oxide into the 
chamber where frog’s corpuscles were subjected to it, which 
had already begun to assume the stellate or radiate arrange- 
ment of the ‘‘ body,” I found that the radiate condition 
disappeared, this being apparently due to the action of the 
carbonic oxide. 
20. Effect of cyanogen gas.— Cyanogen gas, as I have else- 
where pointed out (‘ Journal of Anatomy,’ November, 1869, 
and Pfliiger’s ‘Archiv,’1869) , acts upon hemoglob in, first, by 
combining with it, without destroying its complex character, 
probably forming, first, hydrocyanic acid, which Hoppe 
Seyler showed could thus combine with Hemoglobin.' Then, 
after a time, it breaks up the hemoglobin forming the cyan- 
heematin of Hoppe Scyler, having its own very definite broad 
absorption-band. When the red blood-corpuscles of the frog 
are submitted to the action of a stream of cyanogen gas in 
the gas-chamber, the nuclei at first become distinct; there 
is then a visible contraction and plication of the surface of 
the corpuscle and the colouring matter, in the form of cyan- 
hematin, as proved by the microspectroscope, is suddenly dis- 
charged. A clear stroma, similar to that produced by chlo- 
roform, remains.1 With human blood-corpuscles, clear, some- 
what irregular stromata are left. 
21. Effect of sulphuretted hydrogen—Hydrogen sulphide 
produces a definitely characteristic absorption-band in he- 
moglobin, as also do alkaline sulphides. This was first 
pointed out by Nawroscki. I have proposed to call the 
substance thus indicated sulphemoglobin, a name which has 
been accepted by Professor Preyer in his work ‘ Die Blut- 
krystalle,’ wherein a detailed study of the action of sulphides 
on hemoglobin is given. 
When the red blood-corpuscles of the frog are submitted 
to a stream of H.S the radiate form of the body was rapidly 
assumed, similar to that drawn in fig.’7 6, whilst at the same 
time the corpuscles changed colour, though they did not dis- 
charge it at all. An examination with the microspectroscope 
proved that the hemoglobin had been completely acted 
1 T was led to believe that the absorption spectrum of blood treated 
with cyanogen gas was at first identical with that of CO hemoglobin. 
Preyer however, whilst confirming me on other points, and working with a 
ee Soren states (Die Blutkrystalle) that the spectrum is that 
of ; 
