RED BLOOD CORPUSCLES AND THE HEMOGLOBIN. 487 



binometers, is figured by Stierliii(9) to be 88.8 for the ages 18 to 25 years and 

 100.0 for the ages 25 to 45 years. Since the average age of the groups of men we 

 examined was 25.3 years for that considered in Table II and 27.7 years for 

 that in Table III, it will be seen that the haemoglobin percentages, which ranged 

 from 88 to 90, were probably a little below the standard to be expected in the 

 temperate zone. In the case of Wickline's series the reduction of haemoglobin was 

 more marked, but even among his men it was not low enough to indicate a definite 

 state of chlorosis or anaemia. 



The color index, or hsemogiobin quotient, indicating the richness in 

 hsemoglobin of the individual red cells, is set by most authors at a normal 

 of 1, this figure being based on an average erythrocyte count of 5,000,000 

 and an average haemoglobin estimation of 100 per cent. Bearing in 

 mind the evidence adduced in the above paragraphs, namely that the red 

 cell counts of young men range above 5,000,000 and that the lisemoglobin 

 reading commonly does not reach as high as 100 per cent, it becomes 

 obvious that color indices as great as unity are not to be expected in 

 most instances. However, we have not been able to find in Manila any 

 statistics showing the mean index for healthy and vigorous young adults 

 in the United States or Europe. It seems probable that average haemo- 

 globin quotients between 0.82 and 0.88 such as were found in our exam- 

 inations, may be a little low, but not siifBciently so to be considered as 

 definite indications of anaemia or chlorosis. We feel sure that such 

 reduction in the haemoglobin quotient as did occur among the m^n 

 considered in Table III is not due to a prevalence of mild uncinariasis, 

 since the stools of these men were examined at the conclusion of the 

 observation period and only 2.3 per cent were found to contain hookwonn 

 egga. 



As regards the influence on the blood of the use of garments designed 

 to absorb the actinic rays of the sun, it was shown in a fonner report of 

 the Board (5) that the number of erythrocytes and the percentage of 

 haemoglobin were constantly a little higher for the men wearing orange- 

 red underclothing than for those wearing white. This difference was 

 thought to be due to concentration of the blood in those persons wearing 

 the orange-red underwear, which was warmer than the white and there- 

 fore caused more profuse perspiration. As regards complexion type 

 another report of the Board (6) showed that there was no constant or 

 appreciable difference between the red cell counts and the haemoglobin 

 estimations of blond and brunette American soldiers who had served 

 continuously in the Philippines for periods ranging from eighteen to 

 twenty-four months. 



In closing we wish to express our obligations to the medical officers 

 referred to in footnote 3, who assisted the Board in making the haema- 

 tologic examinations on which this report is based. 



