v THE BLOOD: PLASMA 153 



rapidly) to the normal quantity, owing to their conversion into 

 nitrogenous waste products. A marked increase of urea in urine 

 is actually observed during the first (2-5) days after transfusion 

 (Worm-Miiller, Landois). The erythrocytes diminish far more 

 slowly, so that the blood for about a month is richer in corpuscles 

 (polycythaemia) and haemoglobin (Panum, Lesser, Worm-Muller). 

 The diminution of the corpuscles is due to the breaking-up of their 

 constituents, as manifested in a moderate increase in the* urea 

 excreted daily by the kidneys, and the bile pigments secreted by 

 the liver (Landois). 



It is remarkable that a rapid consumption of transfused blood 

 is observed even during inanition. In a dog that has been sub- 

 jected to a prolonged fast, periodical transfusion does not hinder 

 progressive wasting of the body (Luciani). 



Indirect, as well as direct, homogeneous transfusion is tolerated 

 (provided the amount be not excessive), although defibrinated 

 blood contains a considerable quantity of thrombin and of co- 

 agulative nuclein- containing substances. Panum succeeded in 

 replacing almost the whole of a dog's blood by other homogeneous, 

 defibrinated blood, without injury to the animal. In this case, no 

 plethora is produced ; the transfused blood is supported well by 

 the new individual, and shows no abnormal tendency to degenerate. 

 This indicates homogeneous transfusion as a rational measure to 

 avoid the danger of death in severe haemorrhage. Since, however, 

 in many cases death ensues not from deficiency of the nutritive 

 matters of the blood, but because the necessary mechanical conditions 

 of the circulation are wanting, it is simpler in practice to replace 

 transfusion of blood by intravenous injection of physiological saline 

 (0'9 per cent), as suggested by Kronecker. The salt water is of itself 

 capable of maintaining the circulation, giving time for new blood 

 to form, and thus averting the danger of death from haemorrhage. 



Transfusion of heterogeneous blood is dangerous to the life of 

 the animal even when it is administered in moderate doses. It 

 provokes fever with haemoglobinuria (Ponfik), due to dissolution of 

 erythrocytes (Landois) ; capillary embolism, due to agglutination of 

 foreign blood -corpuscles (Albertoni) ; fibrinous clotting, extra- 

 vasation of blood, diarrhoea, cholaemia, and bile pigments in urine, 

 etc., all effects of the destruction of blood-corpuscles. 



This toxic and specifically haemolytic action of the blood of an 

 animal in regard to the blood of another animal of a different 

 species is exhibited regularly, but in varying degrees, in the 

 different species. Thus the blood of certain fishes, e.g. of the eel 

 and lamprey, is excessively toxic to mammals (A. Mosso). In order 

 to kill a rabbit, it suffices to inject 0*5 grm. of eel's blood for each 

 kgrm. of the rabbit's, into the circulation or peritoneal cavity ; while 

 to produce the same effect with duck's blood, 7 grnis. are required ; 

 with dog's blood 40 grms. per kgrm. (Hericourt and Eichet). 



