consequent upon Inflammations of acute local Character. 185 



that, although the fact is not mentioned by them nor obtainable from 

 their measurements, he would expect a diminution in the number of 

 leucocytes in the circulating blood to precede the leucocytosis. I have 

 a number of observations which demonstrate the accuracy of this 

 supposition by Lowit. It seems the rule for inflammatory leucocytosis 

 to be preceded by a leucocytopenia (Lowit's term). This preliminary 

 leucocjtopenia of the blood is the more remarkable when, instead of 

 the number of leucocytes per unit volume of blood, the numerical 

 ratio of leucocytes to chromocytes is studied. If the total number of 

 leucocytes remained the same there would, as a result of the apo- 

 plasmia at this time, appear to be an increased number of them per 

 unit volume of blood. 



The degree of leucocytosis which occurred in the- experiments 

 "was often very considerable. The number of leucocytes per unit 

 volume of blood was in some instances increased sevenfold. A small 

 part only of such an increase as- this can be accounted for by the co- 

 existing degree of apoplasmia of the blood. The highest ratio of 

 leucocytes to chromocytes observed in my experiments has been 

 1 : 136, a proportion corresponding very closely with the highest 

 observed in Lowit's* experiments,, dealing with another form of 

 leucocytosis r viz, y that following intravenous injection of albumoses, 

 &c. But the ratio 1 : '136 was observed in the dog, and is not nearly 

 so abnormal a ratio as the ratio 1 : 140 observed in one of the experi- 

 ments on the pleural cavity of the cat. Lowit experimented on 

 rabbits, so that my ratios are not strictly comparable with his. The 

 largest number of leucocytes met with per c;. millimeter of blood has 

 been in my experiments 55,000, the number at the outset of the par- 

 ticular experiment being 7,750. 



The statement by v. Limbeck,^ supported by Gottlieb Pick,J 

 that inflammatory leucocytosis does not appear in inflammations ac- 

 companied by slight exudation^but accompanies those causing marked 

 exudation, has not been; found to hold good in my experiments, e.g., 

 in case of inflammation in, pleural cavity hardly any exudation but 

 marked leucocytosis. 



Frequently the leucocytosis is followed by a final leucocytopenic 

 phase (c/. Example on page 175). This does not always occur, but 

 it is occasionally very marked. I have only seen it happen, when the 

 temperature has fallen below normal, and the exitus letlialis is not far 

 off. In one instance the leucocytes, fell to less than 2000 per c. milli- 



iter. 



* Op. dt. 



t ' Zeitschrift fur Heflkunde,' vol. 10, p. 392, 1890. 

 J ' Prager Med. Wochenscb./ 24, p. 303, 1890. 



