414 CHAMBERLAIN AND VEDDER. 



In the case of the Filipinos in oiir series a possible influence of 

 tiibercnlosis should be borne in mind. All of the counts were made on 

 apparently healthy laborers, but no physical examinations were made to 

 exclude latent or incipient tuberculosis as a cause of a high Arneth 

 index. Although tuberculosis is widespread among the Filipinos, we do 

 not believe that it is so prevalent as markedly to raise the average Arneth 

 index of a series of 50 men engaged in daily labor and to all outward 

 appearances in perfect health. 



Intestinal parasites greatly modify the blood findings in Filipinos and 

 are responsible for the eosinophilia almost invariably met with. It is 

 impossible at present to state whether infestation with intestinal worms 

 produces a modification in the Arneth index. 



Diet is a third factor which conceivably might influence a blood picture. 

 The food of the Filipino consists largely of lice and is low in nitrogenous 

 components. It would be of much interest to make a series of Arneth 

 counts on Japanese and northern Chinese, people who dwell in a temperate 

 climate yet have dietary habits similar to those of tropical races. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



1. Both Filipinos and Americans residing more than a year in the 

 Philippines had a normal avera:ge number of white cells per cubic milli- 

 meter. 



2. In both races the percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophiles 

 was much decreased below the minimum considered nonnal for white 

 men in temperate regions. 



3. Probably the polymorphonuclear neutrophiles are the only actively 

 phagocytic cells in the circulating blood. 



4. The average Arneth picture showed a marked shift to the left in 

 the case of Filipinos and a slight drift in the same direction for Amer- 

 icans resident more than a year in the Philippines. 



5. A shift to the left in the Arneth count probably indicates a dimi- 

 nution in the phagocytic power of the blood in question. 



6. From the first five conclusions it will be apparent that the Fili- 

 pinos show an actual absolute reduction in the number of polymorpho- 

 nuclear neutrophiles (phagocytes), and that of this reduced number an 

 abnormally large propoiiion are deficient in phagocytic power. In other 

 words, the Filipino has absolutely fewer efficient phagocytes than are 

 found among white men either in the Philippines or at home. 



7. This reduction in circulating phagocytic cells may be a visible 

 indication of a lowered resistance to infections on the part of native 

 races. 



8. No material differences in the differential count or the Arneth 

 picture were observed between two groups of American soldiers, one 

 group consisting of 28 pronounced blonds and the other group of 28 

 pronounced brunettes. 



