The Ultra-Violet Absorption Spectra of Blood Sera. 327 



substances derived from the maternal intestine. These substances are the 

 products of the micro-organisms originating in fsecally contaminated soil, 

 which are conveyed to man and animals by infected food and water. 



DESCEIPTION OF PLATE. 



Fig. 1. — Stillborn severely-goitred kid, offspring of a goitrous mother (Glass A) 

 which consumed cultures from the fseces of goitrous individuals during pregnancy. 

 Developmental defects are shown in the complete absence of hair and in the 

 condition of the horny hoof. This case is typical of the 10 foetuses of this class (A). 



Fig. 2.— Stillborn goitred kid, offspring of an unmuzzled mother (Class B) which 

 developed goitre during pregnancy. The kid is covered with a thick coat of healthy 

 hair, and the hoofs are normal in appearance. 



Fig. 3. — Foetus of muzzled non-goitrous mother (Class B) showing no goitre. 



The Ultra-Violet Absorption Spectra of Blood Sera. 

 By S. Judd Lewis, D.Sc (Tubingen), B.Sc. (London), F.I.C. 



(Communicated by Sir William Eamsay, K.C.B. Beceived March 18, 1916.) 



At the end of the year 1913 there was introduced a new kind of sector 

 spectrophotometer designed especially for investigation of the ultra-violet 

 spectrum. The possibility of applying the new instrument to the further- 

 ance of medical and physiological science was soon appreciated by the 

 author, and in conference with Dr. C. E. Wheeler it was decided that a 

 study of the ultra-violet absorption spectra of blood sera might lead to 

 results which would be both valuable to science and applicable to clinical 

 practice. ' The proposal was placed before the Beit Besearch Fund Com- 

 mittee, the trustees of a fund which had been placed at the disposal of the 

 British Homoeopathic Association by Mr. Otto Beit for purposes of scientific 

 research. The necessary support was liberally given by the Association, 

 and still further funds are allotted for continuing the work. 



The absorption spectra of blood have engaged the attention of many 

 able and distinguished workers, but the investigation has usually had 

 Reference to the visible spectra of haemoglobin and other colourings and to 

 derivatives of these. The work now to be described has for its object the 

 investigation of the absorption spectra of blood sera in the ultra-violet 

 region. The serum is freed as much as possible from corpuscles by the 

 centrifuge, and the clear pale yellow liquid itself is studied with a view 



VOL. LXXX1X. — B. 2 E 



