Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Nov.,  1918.  > 
Normal  Salt  Solution. 
787 
solutions  of  different  strengths  will  have  on  the  red  blood  cells  or 
erythrocytes. 
The  following  experiment  was  performed  at  two  different  occa- 
sions : 
An  accurately  (chemical  titrated)  2  per  cent,  sodium  chloride  so- 
lution with  distilled  water  was  prepared.  From  this,  salt  solutions 
of  varying  strength  were  made  by  dilution  with  distilled  water  as  ob- 
served in  Table  II. 
Into  separate  one  mil  tubes,  a  mil  of  each  dilution  was  placed. 
I  then  asceptized  my  finger  and  after  examining  a  drop  of  my  blood 
(carefully  observing  the  size  and  shape  of  the  red  blood  cells),  one 
drop  of  blood  was  placed  into  each  tube.  The  contents  in  each 
tube  were  then  well  shaken  and  incubated  in  an  incubator  at  body 
temperature  (37°  C.)  for  one  hour.  At  the  end  of  this  period  of 
incubation,  each  tube  was  examined  macroscopically  to  see  whether 
they  show  erythrocytolysis  or  as  it  is  more  commonly  termed  hemol- 
ysis (i.  e.,  the  destruction  of  the  erythrocyte  or  red  blood  cells  and 
consequent  liberation  of  the  hemaglobin,  with  the  production  of  a 
transparent  red  color).  The  tubes  were  then  allowed  to  stand  twen- 
ty-four hours.  At  the  end  of  this  time  the  tubes  were  centrifugal- 
ized  and  the  sediment  of  red  blood  cells  was  examined  microscopic- 
ally, so  as  to  observe  the  size  and  shape  of  the  erythrocytes.  This 
is  all  recorded  in  Table  II. 
Table  II. 
Original  Blood  6  to  8  fx. 
Strength  of 
Solution,  Per 
Cent. 
One  Mil  of  Solution 
Plus  One  Drop  of 
Blood  Incubated  for 
One  Hour  at  37°  C. 
Size  of  Cells  at  End  of  24 
Hours  Incubation.    In  all 
Cases  an  Average  was 
Taken  After  50  Cells 
were  Counted. 
Shape  of  Cells  at  End  of  24 
Hour  Incubation. 
•3 
Complete  hemoly- 
No  cells — all  ruptured 
s:s  (H.) 
with  liberation  of  he- 
moglobin 
•5 
Slight  H. 
8  /x  to  9  fx 
Slightly  bulged 
•  7 
No.  H. 
7  ix  to  8  fx 
•85 
No.  H. 
6  ix  to  8  fx 
•9 
No.  H. 
6  ix  to  7.5  ix 
Very  little  variation  in  shape 
.1 
No.  H. 
5  ix  to  6  ix 
Variety  of  shapes 
i.i 
No.  H. 
Average  5  ix 
Crenated  and  varied  shape 
1-3 
No.  H. 
Average  4  to  5  fx 
Varied  shape 
1-5 
No.  H. 
Average  4  /x 
Varied  shape 
1.8 
No.  H. 
3  to  4  ix 
Most  all  cells  were  crenated 
2 
Slight  hemolysis 
3  M 
Most  all  cells  were  crenated 
