Action of Sodium Glycocholate. 



91 



The interval is, for convenience, 5 seconds. In all three cases the com- 

 position of the final contents of the tubes is the same. Yet very different 

 results appear. 



By method 1, haemolysis occurs in 30 seconds. 



By method 2, haemolysis occurs in 25 minutes. 



By method 3, haemolysis may occur in a short time as in method 1, or after 

 a long time, as in method 2 ; the time is usually intermediate between the two. 



It is thus obvious that two different phenomena are being observed, 

 according as to whether the glycocholate or the albumin is first brought into 

 contact with the cells. It is further obvious that method 3 is of no use for 

 the giving of consistent results, as the time taken to produce haemolysis varies 

 under apparently the same set of circumstances. The results given by 

 method (1) will first be considered, as being the more important. 



The effects produced by varying the quantity of sodium glycocholate in the 

 above experiment, may now be investigated. 



In a series of tubes is placed - 4 c.c. of varying dilutions of sodium glyco- 

 cholate, as mentioned above ; to each tube is added 0'2 c.c. of blood suspension, 

 and after an interval of 5 seconds, 04 c.c. of 1 per cent, serum albumin 

 solution is added. The observation of the 5 seconds interval is very 

 important. The results are expressed in tabular form : — 



Table V. 



When t = 18. 



5. 



T. 



S. T. 



1 



100 



1 minute. 



400 



55 seconds. 



200 



2& minutes. 



600 



50 



300 



H „ 



1000 



6 minutes. 



It will be found that very rapid haemolysis occurs with all the dilutions of 

 the glycocholate used. 



If the same suspension be tested in a similar way after it has stood for a 

 few hours, a different state of affairs will be found ; the blood cells have 

 undergone a change on standing. This surprising result occurs with great 

 regularity and, with patience, the stages of the change may be made out. As 

 an example, below is given in tabular form, the behaviour of a freshly 

 prepared standard blood suspension, as time elapsed. The time for haemolysis 

 of - 2 c.c. of this suspension by 0'4 c.c. glycocholate of various concentrations 

 plus - 4 c.c. of 1 per cent, serum albumin, was estimated by method 1, as 

 above, at intervals of 1 hour, 12 hours and 24 hours after preparation, as 

 well as immediately after preparation. The results were as follows : — 



