184 Prof. C. S. Sherrington. On Cltanges in the Bl 



of ligation of the vessels of the spleen, and various other forms 

 experimental interference with the contents of the abdominal cavity, 

 including even the simple opening of the cavity by an incision throngt 

 the linea alba, are all followed by increase in the specific gravity of t\ 

 blood. In these cases there occurred increase in the specific gravity 

 usually detectible in thirty minutes or less from the completion of 

 the operation. I was therefore somewhat surprised to meet so long 

 latent period for the reaction in the case of the ligation of tin- in- 

 testine or mesentery of the dog. But in the rabbit interference wit 

 the abdomen so disturbs the normal respiration (in rabbits respiration 

 is almost entirely abdominal) that complications arise which are fa 

 more considerable than in the dog ; e.g., in the rabbit the blc 

 pressure often exhibits under these conditions a considerable tern] 

 rary depression, and the respiratory rate is very greatly hurried. 

 W. Hunter* has observed in this animal an increase of specific gravity 

 of the blood to follow interperitoneal transfusion. By Copeman and 

 myself it was suggested that this inspissation of the blood is a 

 comitant, or even a symptom, of " abdominal shock." Subsequent 

 observations by Mr. Griinbaum and by myself, but especially by Pro- 

 fessor Roy and Dr. Cobbett, have confirmed its association witl 

 abdominal operations, but I would now extend its scope to a lat 

 number of other inflammatory lesions. 



(II.) Changes in the Total Number of the Leucocytes. 



That the number of leucocytes per unit volume of circulating blood 

 is increased in many cases of acute local inflammation is a fact estab- 

 lished by the researches of numerous observers. Some of the most 

 recent and detailed observations on this point are by v. Limbeckt 

 and by Rieder.J They supply careful measurements of the degree 

 this " inflammatory leucocytosis." With a number of their obsei 

 tions my own are fully in accord. In two respects, however, 01 

 observations do not agree. 



V. Limbeck states that leucocytosis always commences prior to 

 occurrence of any inflammatory exudation ; the exudation is a result 

 of the leucocytosis ; to my mind his observations do not prove 

 fact. Certainly, from a number of my experiments, I should con 

 elude rather the reverse, because the blood became obviousl] 

 apoplasmic prior to any increase of the number of leucocytes in it. 



L6wit, in discussing Limbeck's and Rieder's observations, remarl 



' Journ of PhysioL,' vol. 11, p. 116. 



t ' Arch. f. Heilkunde,' vol. 10, p. 892, 1890. 



J ' Beitrkge z. Kenntniss d. Leukocytose,' Leipzig, 1892. Rieder gives c 

 complete review of previous observations and opinions on " inflammatory lei 

 cytosis ; " I will not, therefore, recapitulate them here. 



Op.cit. 



