Metabolic Effects of Polycythemia. 129 



the effect of the ether narcosis was determined as was also the in- 

 fluence on metabolism of the operation itself without the transfusion. 

 The body weight, the amount, specific gravity, and reaction of the 

 urine, and the weight of the dried feces were noted in the daily 

 record. In all experiments the total amounts of nitrogen that were 

 ingested and the corresponding totals that were excreted in the 

 urine were determined ; in some, the total sulfur and phosphorus 

 intakes and outputs were ascertained in addition. The urine was 

 examined for coagulable protein, urobilin, blood and casts. In a 

 special experiment a microscopic examination of the blood was 

 made to determine the variations in the number of erythrocytes. 

 The specific gravity was also ascertained by means of Schmaltz's 

 pyknometer and the presence or absence of hemoglobinemia 

 determined. 



In all cases autopsies were performed and in one animal, that 

 showed the metabolic changes especially well during life, a micro- 

 scopic examination of the liver and kidneys was made. In order 

 to obtain emphatic results in the determination of the metabolic 

 effect of blood transfusion, it was necessary to transfer rather large 

 quantities. The amount of transported blood ranged between 3.5 

 per cent, and 7.5 per cent, of the body weight at each transfusion. 

 It was also found expedient to perform a number of transfusions 

 at comparatively short intervals (from 6 to 8 days) in order to 

 develop cumulative effects, if possible. For the purpose of check- 

 ing the metabolic influence of distention of the vascular system 

 and its filling up with liquid material, infusions of 0.9 per cent. 

 NaCl solution were performed in the same manner and under the 

 same conditions as the blood transfusions. In order fully to un- 

 derstand the metabolic changes produced by blood transfusion, it 

 is necessary to ascertain the effects of serum and corpuscles sepa- 

 rately, a task which has been made the object of a series of ex- 

 periments now in progress. 



The results obtained so far may be summarized briefly as fol- 

 lows : 



Transfused blood does not remain in its entirety in the vas- 

 cular system, but, as indicated above, its several constituents are 

 disposed of unequally. The first to be removed is the water, 

 which fact accounts for the greatly increased volumes of urine 



