534 REi'ouT— 1897. 



One other noteworthy effect appeared in the samples of bloocJ 

 drawn in three of the above four experiments — viz., an unusually rapid 

 sinking of the red corpuscles, leaving a perfectly colourless and clear 

 plasma above. Within half-an-hour, plasma to the extent of one-third of 

 the whole blood drawn appeared above the corpuscles, and within one 

 hour this was increased to almost half, after which very little further sub- 

 sidence was observed. It was in this condition that the blood and plasma 

 coagulated. 



In the exceptional case curare had been administered ; the other dogs- 

 were not curarised . 



(b) On blood-press2i7'e and vaso-motor irritability. — Seven experi- 

 ments, involving a record of blood-pressure, were made with Grosjean's 

 peptone. The dose employed was in all cases 0-2 grm. per kilo, and the 

 weights of the dogs varied from 7'4 to 18'4.5 kilos. 



The general results obtained were the same in all, and showed that 

 pure peptone causes a considerable fall of blood-pressure, and with this a 

 lowering of vaso-muscular irritability to central impulses. The degree 

 and duration of the fall were neither so great nor so lengthened as with 

 corresponding doses of Witte's peptone, nor was the peripheral vaso-motor 

 irritability depressed to the same degree. Thus, after a dose of 0'2 grm. 

 per kilo of pure peptone, blood-pressure had usually returned to its normal 

 level, and with it the response to vaso-motor excitation had likewise, 

 almost, if not fully reappeared. 



These results are in accord with those of Grosjean. 



(c) On blood-vessels of the limb, kidnry, and spleen respectively. — - 

 In three of the above experiments a record of the volume of each of one 

 of these organs was taken, with the object of noting the effect of peptone 

 on its blood-vessels. 



In all three organs it was found that the dose employed produces a 

 distinct lowering of peripheral vaso-motor irritability immediately follow- 

 ing the injection. This, hov/ever, soon commenced to pass off, and within 

 a short period the response, by a gradual return, assumed its normal 

 proportions. 



With regard to any difference shown by the blood-vessels of these 

 organs, little positive can be said based on a single experiment for each. 

 So far, however, as this justifies remark, it would appear that limb blood- 

 vessels are more affected by pure peptone than either renal or splenic. 



III. Effects of Anti-2)eptone. 



(a) On blood coagulation. — This was observed in seven experiments 

 on dogs which varied in weight from 8-7 to 23-95 kilos. The doses em- 

 ployed per kilo were 0*1 grm. in one experiment, 0-2 grm. in four, and 

 0*3 grm. in two experiments. 



In all of these, with one exception, blood coagulation was hastened, in 

 some markedly so. Thus, in one experiment with a dose of 0'2 grm. per 

 kilo, coagulation time was reduced from 9 m. 30 sec. to 2 m. sec. ; in 

 another, with a dose of 0-3 grm. per kilo, from 3 m. sec. to 1 m. 15 sec. ; 

 and in a third, with a dose of 0-1 grm. per kilo, from 5 m. 10 sec. to 2 m. 45 sec. 



In the exceptional case, with a dose of 0'3 grm. per kilo., blood-coagu- 

 lation-time was practically unaltered ; before injection time 3 m. 30 sec, 

 after 3 m. 55 sec. 



This result stands in marked contrast to those published last year in 



