VI.] 



THE COLOURED BLOOD CORPUSCLES. 



47 



6. I. Spectrum of Oxy-hsemoglobin. 



(a.) Begin with a strong solution and gradually dilute it. Place 

 some defibrinated blood in a test-tube, and observe its opacity and 

 bright scarlet colour. 



(b.) Adjust the spectroscope as follows : Light a fan-tailed gas- 

 burner, fix the spectroscope in a suitable holder, and between the 

 light and the slit of the spectroscope place a test-tube containing 

 the blood or its solution. Focus the long image of the gas-flame on 

 the slit of the spectroscope. The focal point can be readily ascer- 

 tained by holding a sheet of white paper behind the test-tube. 



R8.1. OlMllgf 



Yellow. 



Green. 



Blue. 



FIG 24 Spectra of Haemoglobin, and its Compounds, i. Oxy-haemoglobin, 0.8 per cent.; 

 '2 Oxy-luemoglobin, 0.18 per cent.; 3. Carbonic oxide haemoglobin; 4. Reduced haemo- 

 globin. 



(ft.) Add 10 to 15 volumes of water, and note that only the re.d 

 part of the spectrum is visible. Make a sketch of what you see, 

 noting the dilution 



(d.) Add more water until the green appears, and observe that 

 a single dark absorption-band appears between the red and green 

 (fig. 24, i). Continue to dilute until this single broad band is 

 resolved into two by the transmission of yellow-green light. Burn 

 a bead of sodic chloride in the gas-flame, to note distinctly the 

 position of the D line, and observe that of the two absorption 

 bands the one nearest D, conveniently designated by the letter a, 

 is more sharply defined and narrower; while the other, coil- 



