Carbonate Content of Plasma. 



19 



of the Van Slyke apparatus and the total Co 2 content determined 

 by the method devised by Van Slyke. 1 The method adopted was 

 considered to be more advantageous for my purpose than the 

 widely used method of first exposing plasma to 5.5 per cent, of 

 C0 2 and ascertaining the C0 2 combining power. 



Results: The results presented in the accompanying table in- 

 dicate that the total C0 2 content of the arterial plasma is a fairly 

 constant figure, averaging fifty-six volumes per cent. The 

 venous plasma is always a little higher than the arterial in in- 

 dividual cases, the discrepancy being from three to eight volumes 

 per cent. This discrepancy has been found to increase if the 

 individual is allowed to take some light exercise, such as walking, 

 just before the blood samples are taken. Under these conditions 

 the arterial figures remain about normal while the venous are from 

 twelve to fifteen volumes higher. 



The Total Carbonate Content of the Arterial and Venous Plasma of Nor- 

 mal Individuals at Rest. 

 CO2 reduced to o°-76o ram. in 100 c.c. plasma. 



Arterial 



Venous 



Arterial 



Venous 



c.c. 



c.c. 



c.c. 



c.c. 



62.O 



66.0 



55-0 



61.0 



57.8 



64.4 



58.0 



61.4 



54-0 



6l.O 



57-5 



62.8 



59-1 



67.2 



62.8 



65.4 



54-9 



62.2 



53-4 



60.0 



58.1 



64.2 



59-0 



65-7 



2.7 



59-9 



60.3 



67.4 



57-5 



61.5 



54-9 



62.2 



55-7 



61.0 



60.5 



68.9 



51.5 



59-9 







9 (1469) 



The total carbonate content of the arterial and venous plasma in 

 patients with chronic heart disease. 



By R. W. SCOTT (by invitation). 



[From the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Western 

 Reserve University, Cleveland.] 



Twenty-eight determinations of the total carbon dioxide 

 content of the arterial and venous plasma have been made on ten 



1 Van Slyke, D. D., J. Biol. Chem., 191 7, XXX, 347. 



