1879.] Physiology of Sugar in relation to the Blood. 



523 



exercise a decided amount of reducing power over the copper test. It 

 will be seen in the succeeding observations tliat there is a period during 

 the first few days when the reducing power undergoes a pretty sudden 

 fall, and that it afterwards remains nearly stationary. If the reducing 

 action is to be attributed to sugar, and sugar only, it would have to be 

 said that sugar can exist in a mass of putrefied blood without under- 

 going destruction. It seems to me, and this view is supported by 

 evidence to be presently adduced derivable from the addition of sugar 

 to decomposing blood, that there is another reducing substance present 

 besides sugar which is not affected in a similar manner by contiguous 

 decomposition. The period of sudden fall, it appears, may be taken 

 as corresponding with the disappearance of sugar, and this, it will be 

 noticed, presents a variation within certain limits. In the observations 

 at the top of the list the period is more prolonged than in those lower 

 down. It is possible that this may have arisen from the atmosphere of 

 the laboratory having become influenced by . the presence of decom- 

 posing samples of blood. 



The earlier observations were conducted "with the application of 

 Bernard's process only, as it was not until June, 1878, that I began to 

 apply the ammoniated cupric liquid. In the employment of this liquid 

 the same product prepared from the blood was used as for Bernard's 

 mode of testing. It is noticeable that the results yielded by the two 

 processes differ from each other in the manner that has been already 

 commented upon. 



Decomposition of Blood in relation to Sugar. 



Eeducing action, expressed 

 as sugar per 1,000 parts. 



Bernard's 

 process. 



Ammoniated 

 cupric 

 process. 



1 -066 

 0-987 

 0-808 

 0-215 





0-909 

 325 

 0-303 

 0-283 

 0-242 

 0-242 





1-333 

 '365 

 0-353 

 0-259 

 0-242 





I. Blood of bullock. 



Day of withdrawal . . 



3 days afterwards 



4 „ 

 30 „ 



II. Blood of sheep. 



Day of withdrawal . . 

 3 days afterwards 

 4 



I™ 55 55 

 8. 55 55 



21 „ 

 30 „ 



III. Blood of bullock. 

 Day of withdrawal . . 



1 day afterwards 



2 days „ 

 17 „ 



30 „ 



