1902 - 3 .] Dr G. A. Gibson on Some Observations on Cyanosis. 397 
between 80 and 100 per cent., while the number of red corpuscles 
fluctuated between 8,000,000 and 8,800,000 per cubic millimetre, 
and the number of white corpuscles oscillated between 5000 and 
8500 per cubic millimetre. On 20th October a drop of blood was 
obtained from a small twig of the temporal artery and another 
from a small tributary of the temporal vein in order to compare 
with the blood in the capillaries, and the following results were 
obtained. Artery : haemoglobin, 93 per cent. ; erythrocytes, 
7,000,000 ; and leucocytes, 6875 per cubic millimetre. Capillary : 
haemoglobin, 93 per cent. ; erythrocytes, 8,500,000 ; and leucocytes, 
8500 per cubic millimetre. Yein : haemoglobin, 115 per cent.; 
erythrocytes, 10,000,000; and leucocytes, 7400 per cubic milli- 
metre. Under treament by means of hydriodic acid, cardiac tonics, 
and diuretics internally, along with inunction of diluted red iodide 
of mercury ointment, the patient has improved very greatly, and 
although the liver and spleen are still enlarged the other symptoms 
have almost entirely disappeared. Along with the disappearance 
of the symptoms the condition of the blood has come back 
practically to normal. 
Uow we learn from these observations that in cyanosis there is 
a general increase throughout the whole circulation in the amount 
of haemoglobin and in the number of the erythrocytes, while the 
state of matters as regards the leucocytes is less constant. It seems 
to me that this universal, if not uniform, increase goes a long way 
in support of the explanation which I ventured to advance in the 
paper to which reference has already been made. The whole sub- 
ject, however, requires experimental investigation, and it was my 
intention to have entered upon a series of experiments— an intention 
which has been frustrated by lack of time. One of my friends has 
undertaken a research upon the subject, and it is to be hoped that 
in the course of a few months definite information will be available. 
It is probable that the universally recognised increase in the number 
of the hsemocytes in those who live in high altitudes may be found 
to furnish an available opportunity of working out the problem. 
Another point arises from the consideration of these observations. 
It has been said that the increase in the haemoglobin and erythro- 
cytes is universal but not uniform, and in this interesting fact lies 
the exposure of a possible source of fallacy in attempting to estimate 
