342 VEHICLES OF CHEMICAL CORRELATION 



have shown, the previously reported rise of globulins after the adminis- 

 tration of Antipyrin was due to analytical errors, and does not occur; 

 The same observers have also shown that therapeutic agents which 

 markedly accelerate or retard metabolism, namely Thyroid Extract 

 and Sodium Cacodylate respectively, are devoid of influence upon the 

 protein quotient, and Hanson has also shown that the previously 

 reported effects of Starvation were due to individual fluctuations and 

 that if a sufficient number of analyses be made neither starvation nor 

 heavy feeding is found to affect the quotient in any constant manner. 

 On the other hand Buck has shown that if Ether or Chloroform be admin- 

 istered for very prolonged periods to animals, so that Albuminuria 

 begins to appear, the globulin quotient rises, far more markedly than 

 could be accounted for by an escape of serum-albumin into the urine. 

 This observation may possibly indicate that the true source of the 

 marked alterations in the globulin-quotient which occur in infections 

 and toxemias resides in alterations of the Permeability of the tissue- 

 cells. No further evidence bearing upon this possibility is as yet, 

 however, in our possession. 



THE COAGULATION OF THE BLOOD. 



One of the most remarkable properties of the blood is that which it 

 possesses of clotting or coagulating in a brief period after its issuance 

 from the bloodvessels. The clot which is formed is a markedly con- 

 tractile one and if it is loosened from the sides of the vessel to which it 

 otherwise adheres, the clot, with its entangled blood-corpuscles, shrinks 

 away toward the center of the vessel, expressing a clear white or pale 

 yellow serum as it recedes. This phenomenon is known as Syneresis. 

 If a clot be cut into pieces with a knife or rod, the pieces retract from 

 one another and round up into separate masses. 



A number of different agencies are capable of preventing the clotting 

 of blood w r hen it is shed, thus the various Calcium Precipitants, such as 

 oxalates, citrates, sulphates and so forth will, if added in sufficient 

 amounts, prevent or delay the coagulation of the blood and in fact a 

 common way of preparing incoagulable blood is to receive the blood 

 directly from the vessels into a solution of sodium or ammonium 

 oxalate. Such Oxalated Blood as it is called, remains fluid and inco- 

 agulable until, and unless a soluble calcium salt be added to it in suffi- 

 cient amount to remove all of the calcium-precipitating agent. Accord- 

 ing to Sabbatini there are minimal and maximal concentrations of 

 Calcium Chloride below and above which coagulation is inhibited. The 

 upper limit is a 0.162 molecular solution, the lower about one thou- 

 sandth part of this concentration. Salts which do not actually pre- 

 cipitate calcium, such as sodium citrate, prevent coagulation by reduc- 

 ing the concentration of free Calcium Ions below the necessary minimal 

 limit. 



Other agencies which will prevent coagulation are certain solutions 



