COAGULATION RATE OF BLOOD 185 



eosin solution in 70% alcohol. The eosin staining only requires fifteen to 

 thirty seconds. 

 5. Wash and examine. 



lODOPHILIA. 



This reaction is supposed to be due to the presence of glycogen, 

 especially in the polymorphonuclears, in suppurative conditions. 



It has been stated that a differentiation between the joint involvement in gonor- 

 rhoeal infection and in articular rheumatism may be made from iodophilia being 

 present in the gonococcus infection. 



Make blood-smears on cover-glasses as usual, and after they dry, but without 

 fixation, mount them in a drop of the following solution: 



Iodine, i part. 



Potassium iodide, 3 parts. 



Gum arabic, 50 parts. 



Water, 100 parts. 



Small brown masses in the polymorphonuclears indicate a positive iodophilia. 



Viscosity of the Blood. This is estimated by observing the relative height to 

 which blood rises in capillary tubes as compared with water, and normally varies 

 from three to five. The higher the haemoglobin content the greater the viscosity. 

 Viscosity is high in arterio-sclerosis and diabetic coma, low in the anaemias of 

 nephritis. 



Coagulation Rate of Blood. This determination is of value in con- 

 nection with operations on jaundiced patients. 



Wright's coagulometer is a standard instrument but is cumbersome. 



A simple method of determining the rate is to take a- piece of capil- 

 lary glass tubing and hold it downward from the puncture to let it 

 fill for 3 or 4 inches. Then at intervals of thirty seconds scratch 

 with a file the capillary tubing at short distances and break off between 

 the fingers. When coagulation has taken place a long worm-like co- 

 agulum is obtained. Normally coagulation occurs in about three to 

 four ^minutes, when the temperature is that of the hand in which the 

 tubes are conveniently held. Rudolf recommends placing the tubes in 

 metal tube containers in a Thermos bottle at 20 C. He gives the normal 

 coagulation rate for this temperature as 8 minutes, while at a tempera- 

 ture below this the period is lengthened. Age and sex do not influence 

 the rate. Sabrazes, the originator of this method found no appreciable 

 variation in tubes from 0.8 to 1.2 mm. diameter. 



