BLOOD, RESPIRATION, CIRCULATION AND DISTURBANCES 313 



Let us test the correctness of this view with the facts at our dis- 

 posal. 1 



It follows from the evidence to be given (p. 315) that the accumu- 

 lation of C0 2 increases the viscosity of the blood, but we do not learn 

 from this how the swelling of the blood corpuscles and to what ex- 

 tent the H ion concentration at the interface tissue/blood may be 

 involved. Indirectly we obtain a certain insight from the studies 

 of acid intoxications. A. LOEWY and E. MUNZER* determined the 

 ability of the blood to absorb C0 2 in normal animals and in those 

 poisoned with hydrochloric acid, with the following results. 



NORMAL BLOOD. 



BLOOD OF AN ANIMAL POISONED WITH ACID. 



Accordingly, the CO 2 tension must be greater in the animal 

 poisoned with acid for the same absorption by the blood to occur 

 as in a normal animal; which means that there is less alkali for use 

 in combining with the acid products diffusing from the tissues than 

 in the normal one. 



Similar conditions occur when there is an abnormal acid produc- 

 tion in the tissues; namely, after great muscular exertion with over- 

 production of lactic acid, in fever, where, measuring the alkalinity 

 of the blood (by the CO 2 exhausted), KRAUS found it reduced to one- 

 half or one-third of the normal, as in typhoid, erysipelas, scarlatina 

 or continued fever of tuberculosis, in starvation, in coma, especially 

 diabetic coma with over production of oxybutyric acid, and frequently 

 in diabetes mellitus. KRAUS found in a severe case instead of a vol- 



1 It is only possible to indicate here that the difference in the reaction be- 

 tween blood and tissue necessitates a difference in potential which offers resist- 

 ance to the movements of the blood. It is greater in proportion to the relative 

 difference in the concentration of H ions. Unfortunately, we lack the experi- 

 mental basis to establish my assumption mathematically. 



