202 TRANSFUSION OF OTHER FLUIDS. 



Dissolved haemoglobin seems greatly to increase the activity of the fibrin-ferment 

 ( 30), perhaps by accelerating the decomposition of the colourless corpuscles. 

 Haemoglobin exposed to the air gradually loses this property; and the fibrin- 

 ferment, when in contact with haemoglobin, is either destroyed or rendered less 

 active (Sachssendahl). 



Vascular Symptoms. As a result of the above-named causes of occlusion of 

 the vessels, there are often signs of the circulation being impeded in various organs. 

 In man, after transfusion of lamb's blood, the skin is bluish-red, in consequence of 

 the stagnation of blood in the cutaneous vessels. Difficulty of breathing occurs 

 from obstruction in the capillaries of the lung ; while there may be rupture of small 

 bronchial vessels, causing sanguineous expectoration. The dyspnoea may increase, 

 especially when the circulation through the medulla oblongata the seat of the 

 respiratory centre is interfered with. In the digestive tract, for the same reason, 

 increased peristalsis, evacuation of the contents of the rectum, vomiting, and 

 abdominal pain may occur. These phenomena are explained by the fact that 

 disturbances of the circulation in the intestinal vessels cause increased peristaltic 

 movements. Degeneration of the parenchyma of the kidney occurs as a result of 

 the occlusion of some of the renal vessels. The uriniferous tubules become 

 plugged with cylinders of coagulated albumin (Ponfick). Owing to the occlusion, 

 of numerous small muscular branches the muscles may become stiff, or coagulation 

 of their myosin may occur. Other symptoms, referable to the nervous system, the 

 sense-organs and heart, are all due to the interference with the circulation 

 through them. An important symptom is the occurrence of a considerable 

 amount of fever half an hour or so after the transfusion of heterogeneous blood. 

 When many vessels are occluded, rupture of some small blood-vessels may take 

 place. This explains, the occurrence of slight yet persistent haemorrhages, which 

 occur on the free surfaces of the mucous and serous membranes, and in the paren- 

 chyma of organs, as well as in wounds. The blood coagulates with difficulty, and 

 imperfectly. 



Transfusion Of Other Fluids- Other substances have been transfused. 

 NORMAL SALINE SOLUTION (0'6 p.c. NaCl) aids the circulation in a purely 

 mechanical way (Goltz), and it even excites the circulation (Kronecker, Sander, 

 Ott). In severe anaemia this fluid cannot maintain life (Eulenburg and Landois). 

 The injection of PEPTONE, even in moderate amount, is dangerous to life, as it causes 

 paralysis of the vessels. The injection of MILK is accompanied with danger ; 

 fever occurs after the injection, and the milk globules cause the occlusion of many 

 vessels, producing subsequent degenerations. Fat may appear in the urine, 

 and there may be fatty infiltration of the urinary tubules. The urine contains 

 sugar and albumin, the liver cells often contain fatty granules, and the weight of 

 the body diminishes. If too large a quantity of milk be transfused, death occurs. 

 When unboiled milk is injected, numerous bacteria are developed in the blood 

 (Schafer). 



