THE NONSPECIFIC REACTION 63 



one-half hour after the injection and in one case reached the total 

 of 800 cells per c.mm. Among these basophiles were frequently ob- 

 served. Nucleated red cells, both megaloblasts and normoblasts, were 

 also observed. Tiirck irritation forms were also noted (acidophile 

 granular lymphocyte forms) and irregular small lymphocytes. Cowie 

 and Calhoun consider that the leukopenia is due to an emigration 

 of the leukocytes to the internal organs. According to their observa- 

 tion they obtained the most satisfactory clinical results in those 

 patients that responded best with a high leukocytosis. 



Holler, on the other hand, does not consider a leukocytosis an 

 essential factor in the therapeutic result. Liidke as well as Holler 

 noted a slight eosinophilia after the albumose injections. 



Other nonspecific agents produce a leukocytosis of varying degree 

 and studies have been made on the blood cytology following in- 

 jections of serum, nucleins, colloidal metals, salt solution, turpentine, 

 iodids and a number of related substances. (Pfenninger; Hammett, 

 Kessler and Browning; Paaschen; Fiessinger and Marie, etc.) 



Miiller considers that digestion leukocytosis represents merely 

 the leukocytic reaction to the protein split products absorbed dur- 

 ing the course of digestion. 



The Erythrocytes. Schittenhelm, Weichardt and Griessheimer ob- 

 served the erythropoietic irritation that followed a variety of bacterial 

 injections, just as other observers before them had noted the presence 

 of many nucleated red cells after such intravenous injections. Clinic- 

 ally it has been observed that the red count is increased after non- 

 specific injections in anemia; in pernicious anemia the increase is as a 

 rule transient and uncertain. 



Platelets. Duke has observed that small doses of typhoid vaccine 

 increase the number of blood platelets while larger doses cause a 

 diminution in the number. Cowie and Calhoun report that the platelets 

 after typhoid injection increase in number and size. Dollken, on the 

 other hand, found no constant alteration in the platelets after milk in- 

 jections although he found a decided styptic effect from such injections 

 in cases of hemorrhagic diathesis. He concluded from his observa- 

 tions that the platelets were probably not concerned in the altera- 

 tion in the coagulation rate. 



Blood Sugar. Lowy observed a very prompt increase in the 

 amount of blood sugar following nonspecific injections. (Milk.) 



Fibrinogen. The amount of fibrinogen in the blood is increased in 

 about 6 hours after milk injection and remains at a high level 

 for a period of about 8 days. (Lowy, von der Velden.) Moll ob- 

 served the increase in fibrinogen after the injection of gelatin and 

 serum. 



Thrombokinase. Thrombokinase is increased very shortly after 

 milk injections. Deutero-albumoses, bacteria and colloidal metals 

 have little effect on the coagulation mechanism. 



