13 



where there was rio interval between the preservative and after 

 periods, this increase was carried into the after period. 



A point worthy of notice here is the fact that the sum of the in- 

 crease in neutral and inorganic surphur in the preservative period 

 alone more than accounts for the preservative sulphur ingested. 

 This, when the after period is considered, may be derived from an 

 increase in katabolic activities. There does not appear to be any 

 marked effect on the excretion of ethereal sulphates. Half of the 

 subjects show an increase in the excretion of this form of sulphates, 

 which, in the case of these individuals, may indicate a slight in- 

 crease in the putrefactive changes taking place in the intestines, 

 although, since this increase occurred in the case of the subjects re- 

 ceiving sulphurous acid, it might be attributed to direct combination 

 in the intestines. 



There is the same tendency shown throughout by the data, namely, 

 the rapid elimination of practically all of the preservative sulphur in 

 an oxidized form in the urine. 



MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE BLOOD. 



One of the most important conclusions established by the experi- 

 mental data is that which relates to the comparative number of blood 

 corpuscles and the quantity of hemoglobin as influenced by the action 

 of the sulphurous acid. The data here are of such a character as to 

 admit of no doubt whatever as to their interpretation. Under the 

 influence of the sulphurous acid both the number of red and of white 

 corpuscles in the blood is largely diminished. This is true whether 

 the sulphurous acid is exhibited in the form of sulphites or as free 

 acid. In Series VII the number of red corpuscles in a cubic milli- 

 meter of the blood is about one million less in three individual cases, 

 and a uniform decrease is recorded for all but two individuals. In 

 the special study, Series XIII, this effect is confirmed. During the 

 after period the loss in the number of red corpuscles is partially 

 restored and doubtless would have been completely restored had the 

 after period been continued longer. The relative decrease of the 

 white corpuscles is even greater than that of the red blood cells, but 

 is not marked by the same uniformity. This loss is also partially 

 restored during the after period. The data, therefore, are very strik- 

 ing in showing the tendency of the sulphurous acid to diminish the 

 number of both red and white corpuscles, and also to diminish the 

 percentage of hemoglobin. The relation between the decrease in 

 hemoglobin and red blood cells, as expressed by the color index, 



[Cir. 37] 



