THE RED BLOOD-CORPUSCLES 835 



pigment. Injection of haemoglobin into the circulation causes increased 

 secretion of bile-pigment. A section of normal liver immersed in potassium 

 ferrocyanide and then in acid alcohol shows the presence of iron by the 

 assumption of a blue colour. The amount of iron which can be demon- 

 strated in the liver in this way is enormously increased by any condition 

 which augments the rate of blood destruction. In the pathological condition 

 known as pernicious anaemia, as well as after poisoning by the injection of 

 pyrogallic acid or toluylene diamine, both of which agents cause a great 

 destruction of red blood-corpuscles, the liver on treatment in this way 

 assumes a deep blue colour. In some cases crystals of haemoglobin have 

 been seen within the nucleus of the liver- cell. In the destruction of the 

 corpuscles the haemoglobin is dissociated first into its protein and chromo- 

 genic moieties ; the haemochromogen then loses its iron and is converted 

 into bile-pigment. The iron remains in the liver and is probably retained 

 in the body and utilised for the formation of the fresh haemoglobin necessary 

 for the newly forming red blood- corpuscles in -the bone-marrow. 



