Influence of Temperature on Hemolysis. 



73 



crease in the vascularity of this organ was observed. This decrease 

 apparently followed a tonic contraction of the blood vessels and 

 not a true constriction as is produced, for example, by stimulation 

 of the corresponding splanchnicus major. It seemed to be merely 

 a tonic reaction of the kidney against the high systemic blood 

 pressure which follows stimulation of the sciatic. 



Similarly, the application of cold compresses across the back 

 in the region of the kidneys, reduced the blood-flow through this 

 organ, while hot compresses increased the flow. As the tempera- 

 ture of the organ itself, or of the tissues in its immediate vicinity, 

 was not changed by the compress, these variations in the vascu- 

 larity of the kidney must have been produced reflexly. 



Stimulation of the distal ends of the vagi, below the point 

 where the cardiac branches are given off, did not change the blood 

 flow. The vagus, therefore, appears to carry no efferent vaso- 

 motor impulses to the kidney. 



32 (370) 



The influence of temperature on hemolysis in hypotonic 



solutions. 



By PAUL A. LEWIS. 



[^From the Antitoxin Laboratory of the Massachusetts State Board 



of Health.'] 



Hemolysis in hypotonic solutions is progressively increased as 

 the temperature is decreased from thirty seven degrees centigrade 

 to five degrees centigrade. In order to bring out this fact, that 

 modification of Hamburger's method for testing the resistance of 

 erythrocytes, which was introduced by Theobald Smith, was used. 

 The solutions were brought to the required temperature and then 

 the corpuscles were added. The differences are present both at 

 the points of beginning and complete hemolysis, but are only well 

 marked at the intermediate points. This accounts for results 

 obtained by Hamburger (1887 and 1903) who held that tempera- 

 ture within these limits was without influence. 



The effect of temperature is the same whether sodium chloride 

 or cane-sugar is used to give tonicity to the fluid. The corpuscles 



