894 Paralytic Hemoglobinemia. 



resulting from an infection through decubital gangrene or from 

 other complications, possibly also from the hemoglobinemia 

 itself. 



The heart's action, except in the mild cases, is from the 

 beginning increased in proportion to the restlessness of the 

 animal (50-60 beats per minute), at the same time however 

 it is strong. After the development of complications it becomes 

 more accelerated (80-100 per minute), correspondingly the pulse 

 which is at first tense and full, becomes gradually softer and 

 finally thread-like. 



Frequently the passing of urine is retarded so that a 

 considerable dilation of the bladder may develop. Excepting 

 in a few, mostly very mild and rapidly passing cases, the 

 urine appears to bemore or less intensely dirty reddish-brown 

 or beer-brown to ink-black in color; and although it clears on 

 filtration it retains its red color. The specific gravity is in- 

 creased, but the reaction is mostly alkaline, more rarely acid; 

 at the same time it contains more or less albumen, a large 

 amount of phosphates, usually also uric acid salts, and less 

 hippuric acid. The sediment with its pale gray or yellowish 

 color stands out in contrast to the reddish-brown to blackish 

 color of the urine, and offers a certain positive means of proof 

 that the abnormal color of the urine originates from dissolved 

 blood coloring matter. The sediment of the urine sometimes 

 contains hyaline or granular , casts, possibly also renal 

 epithelial cells, sometimes white and red blood corpuscles in 

 sparing numbers, which are present because of a simultaneous 

 inflammation of the kidneys ; hemoglobin casts are also frequently 

 found. (Tatray observed in one case numerous hemoglobin 

 crystals, j 



For demonstration of the blood coloring matter in the urine the benzidine test 

 of Sehlesinger, or the guajae-oil of turpentine test of Schumm, is best adapted, 

 while the spectral-analytic method or Heller's test is considerably less suitable, 

 because of its sensitiveness (Mayer), when it is desired to demonstrate small 

 quaTitities of blood coloring matter, which, however, is usually not the case in 

 hemoglobinemia. The spectral-analytic method can, however, not be omitted for 

 demonstrating the various combinations of the blood coloring matter, especially 

 the oxy- and the methemoglobins. Two absorption bands are indicative of oxy- 

 hemoglobin, namely, one small dark band lying to the right of Frauenhof er 's line 

 D (on the border of the red and yellow color of the sun spectrum), and a lighter 

 and somewhat broader band lying to the left from the B-line; the presence of 

 methemoglobin is indicated by a band to the left of the D-line (in the field of the 

 red color). Frequently, however, all three bands may be seen simultaneously. 



The quantity of albumen in the urine (according to Lucet 

 1-25 :1000) is not always proportional with the intensity of the 

 red color, but it is considerably greater in a simultaneous af- 

 fection of the kidneys. The quantity of urea was found by 

 Schindelka and Frohner in some cases, and by MacFadyean al- 

 ways to be diminished. 



Frequently the blood coagulates more rapidly, but the 

 coagulum remains loose for a longer time,' so that only a rela- 

 tively small quantity of serum is separated. The blood serum 

 appears reddish or of a pronounced red color at the onset, and 



