8o 



Scientific Proceedings (57). 



With this apparatus dialysis, at least in so far as the inorganic 

 substances are concerned, is rapid and satisfactory. 



47 (864) 



On the alleged role of hematin in the production of the malarial 



paroxysm. 



By E. E. Butterfield and L. S. Benedict. 



[From the Pathological Department of Bellevue and Allied Hospitals.] 



The view has been advanced that the symptoms of the malarial 

 paroxysm are due to the toxic action of hematin 1 . The basis for 

 this view rests, (1) in the alleged identity of hematin and malarial 

 pigment, and (2) in the effect produced by intravenous injections 

 of hematin solutions in rabbits. Inasmuch as hematin has not 

 yet been isolated from the fresh organs of an undoubted case of 

 malaria, malarial pigment cannot be justly identified with hematin. 

 The present communication deals chiefly with the temperature 

 curve in rabbits after intravenous injection of from 0.0023 g. to 

 0.0370 g. of hematin per kilo body weight. 



The hematin was prepared from hemin by the method of 

 Piloty. 2 The hemin was prepared from ox blood by the Piloty 

 modification 3 of the Schalfejeff method and recrystallized from 

 pyridin. The hematin was dissolved in 0.9 per cent. NaCl solution 

 containing 1.5 per cent. NaHC0 3 . All solutions used contained 

 0.5 g. hematin in 100 c.c, were microscopically clear, and were 

 sterile. 



The rectal temperatures of the rabbits were taken every 30 

 minutes after injection, with a clinical thermometer which had 

 been checked against a P. T. R. thermometer. Two minutes was 

 allowed for the registration of the maximum temperature. Fresh 

 rabbits were used for each series of experiments; no animals were 

 reinoculated. 



Twelve rabbits received hematin solution, eight rabbits received 

 the solvent (0.9 per cent. NaCl solution containing 1.5 percent. 



1 W. H. Brown, Journal of Exp. Med., XV, p. 579, 1912. 

 1 Piloty. Ann. d. Chemie. CCCLXXVII, p. 358, 1910. 

 3 Piloty. /. c. p. 344. 



