LIFE AND ALKALINITY OF THE BLOOD. 779 



carry an adequate quantity of C0 2 , and thus assists it in effi- 

 caciously ridding the organism of this gas. 



The classical teachings in respect to the importance of the 

 blood's alkaline reaction in all vital functions are not only sus- 

 tained by our labors, but greatly emphasized in view of the 

 manner in which the various leucocytes we have studied dis- 

 tribute their granules of peptone, myosinogen, fibrinogen, hem- 

 oglobin, and myelin. Any modification in the fluidity and con- 

 stituents of the plasma must necessarily compromise this all- 

 important function, and, if we recall the fact that chloride of 

 sodium takes part in the intranuclear reaction of all leucocytes, 

 it will become apparent that the presence of this salt in ade- 

 quate proportion in the plasma is as paramount to the con- 

 tinuation of life's processes as is oxygen itself. Even trypsin 

 will, not act in the absence of salts. Metchnikoff, we have seen, 

 found that trypsin was the active body of the intraphagocytic 

 alexin; referring to the latter, he writes 107 : "It only acts in the 

 presence of salts. When relieved of its salts by dialysis, the 

 serum loses its haemolytic power, but, as soon as these salts are 

 restored to it, this power reappears." 



The remarkable results obtained by the timely administra- 

 tion of saline solution either subcutaneously, intravenously, or 

 by way of the rectum in febrile diseases, uremia, puerperal 

 eclampsia and other infections, haemorrhage, etc., and which in 

 some cases have restored sufferers deemed to be in extremis, are 

 thus accounted for. Indeed, some of the instances reported 

 could almost be considered as resuscitations. 



Experimental bacteriology forcibly shows the importance 

 of the alkaline reaction of the blood-fluids as a protective 

 factor. The experiments of Behring and Nissen 108 led them 

 to conclude that the resistance of the white rat to anthrax was 

 due to the intense alkalinity of its blood; Paul 109 not only 

 supported this view, but also found that, if the alkalinity of 

 rabbit's serum was neutralized, its germicidal powers disap- 

 peared. 110 These observations were further sustained by von 



107 Metchnikoff: Loc. cit., p. 93. 



108 Behring and Nissen: Zeitschrift flir Hygiene, Bd. vii, 1890. 



109 Paul: "Proceedings of the Royal Society," London, May 22, 1890. 



110 McFarland: "Pathogenic Bacteria"; edition, 1900. 



