PATHOLOGICAL METABOLISM OF THE BLOOD 565 



and cobra venom, following the removal of the spleen, show a lessened 

 tendency to cause hemoglobinuria and jaundice (Bottazzi, Banti (a), Pug- 

 lirse and Luzzatti, Dominici, Joannovics, Karsner, Pearce, Austin and 

 Krumbhaar, Gates). As a result of these findings the theory was advanced 

 that the spleen was concerned in some way in influencing "the normal de- 

 struction of worn-out erythrocytes, and that, as -this influence was lost 

 after splenectomy, hemolytic agents were correspondingly less effective. 

 Botazzi, who was the first to demonstrate that the red cells after sple- 

 nectomy showed an increased resistance to hemolysis in hypotonic salt 

 solutions, used this observation as the basis for his hemocatatonistic con- 

 ception of splenic function. This view has received support from Banti 

 (b}(d)(c) and Furno, who regard the spleen as an organ concerned in 

 hemolysis. 



The histologic evidence of the destruction of erythrocytes by phago- 

 cytic cells of the spleen naturally suggests the possibility that these cells 

 may liberate a hemolytic substance capable of acting either intracellularly 

 or extracellularly. Could such a free hemolysin in the spleen be demon- 

 strated it would at once explain the decreased tendency to jaundice in 

 the splenectomized animal and would give some basis for splenectomy in 

 the hemolytic anemias. The evidence presented in support of such a 

 contention appears, on the whole, somewhat contradictory. 



Banti, an adherent of the view that the spleen has a hemolytic 

 function, bases his support upon the observation that the red blood-cells in 

 the splenic vein show a decreased resistance to hypotonic salt solutions and 

 upon the finding that fresh extracts of spleen contain a cyto-hemolysin. 

 These observations, however, have not been confirmed by other workers. 



According to the work of Krumbhaar and Musser the differences 

 observed between the arterial and venous blood of the spleen are within 

 the limits of error inherent in the methods used. In fact, some investi- 

 gators (Chalier, Gabbi) have come to exactly the opposite conclusion, 

 namely, that splenic vein blood is more resistant than the arterial blood. 

 There is, therefore, little ground for the assumption that erythrocytes, in 

 their passage through the spleen, are so acted upon by some unknown 

 substance as to become more susceptible to hemolysis. 



Nor is there uniformity of opinion concerning the hemolytic power 

 of splenic extracts. Whereas Nolf, Weill, Banti (&) (d) (c) and Furno 

 find extracts of the normal spleen to have a hemolytic action greater than 

 that of other organs, Iscovesco and Zacchiri, Achard, Foix, and Salin, and 

 Widal, Abrami, and Brule, as well as Krumbhaar and Musser, Jr., fail to 

 find any hemolytic action in fresh splenic extract. They are, therefore, 

 inclined to regard the recorded instances of hemolytic action as due to 

 autolysis or bacterial decomposition of the spleen. 



Notwithstanding that hemolysis in the normal spleen cannot be dem- 

 onstrated, it has been maintained that this does not exclude the possi- 



