LIFE AND ALKALINITY OF THE BLOOD. 785 



region, for the process requires rapid production of leucocytes, 

 followed by absorption of theinjected fluid by the cells and im- 

 mediate return of the latter to the blood-stream to distribute 

 their charge throughout the entire organism. In the so-called 

 "diathetic" diseases, including rheumatism, gout, and migraine, 

 the use of saline solution enemata, and, if need be, hypo- 

 dermoclysis, or of saline waters by the mouth, should prove 

 beneficial in addition to the remedies administered. Indeed, 

 the reputation acquired by many of the best-known watering- 

 resorts in Europe is admittedly due, as is well known, to the al- 

 kaline salts which the patients ingest in large quantities and to 

 the well-regulated regime prescribed for them by the local phy- 

 sicians. In the treatment of tuberculosis it constitutes an es- 

 sential measure. 



Certain growths, particularly the more malignant forms, 

 sarcoma and carcinoma, seem closely connected with adrenal 

 insufficiency and its normal consequences. We have seen that 

 trypsin, fibrinogen, and the oxidizing substance were simulta- 

 neously necessary to insure the destruction of cells even in 

 vitro, and, furthermore, that this process required, in addition, 

 the presence of alkaline salts. That the destruction of worn- 

 out or degenerated cells is a function of these very elements in 

 the blood is evident. Insufficiency of the adrenals, therefore, 

 by reducing the relative proportion of these four constituents 

 in the blood-stream must correspondingly inhibit this physio- 

 logical process in all parts of the organism. 



As to sarcoma, the similarity between the cellular elements 

 of the small round-celled variety and mononuclear leucocytes is 

 striking; each cell shows its nucleus, fibrils, and granules, 

 though, of course, more or less modified, owing to the abnormal 

 environment. The large round-cell sarcoma recalls the meta- 

 morphosis into epithelial cells which eosinophiles undergo in 

 the pulmonary alveoli; indeed, the cells of melanosarcoma con- 

 tain the blood-pigments themselves. Grouped as sarcomata are 

 now, according to the variety of connective tissue which forms 

 their frame-work, we have, as is well known, myo-, lympho-, 

 fibro-, myxo-, glio-, osteo-, chondro-, myelo-, melano-, angio-, 

 and finally neuro- sarcoma, all of which clearly indicate that 

 any part of the system in which nutrition is, from one cause 



