C. Lundsgaard 137 
on the lower stem. The latter is preferable, but the pipette for 
complete discharge gives in practice equally good results, because 
only a very little surface of blood touches the air, so the whole 
blood column may be used without introducing any appreciable 
error. The calculation of the amount of oxygen in the sample is 
simple (see p. 131, Van Slyke’s paper (12)). The determination of 
the total oxygen-combining power of the blood has in some instances 
been done with the Van Slyke apparatus, in other instances with 
Palmer’s colorimetric method (13). If the blood has been kept 
in an ice box for some time, it may be impossible to rely upon 
the homogeneity. Consequently when the main sample of blood 
is placed under an oil layer, a portion of about 1 or 2 ce. is trans- 
ferred to a special dish without oil and used for the Palmer de- 
termination. It is advisable to havea glass bead in this dish to 
stir the sample. ; 
RESULTS. 
The results are given in Tables I and II. Besides the date 
and hour of bleeding and of the determination, the pulse and 
respiration during the bleeding, three groups of figures are given. 
(1) The oxygen content of the venous blood in volume per cent 
corrected for temperature and pressure. In all instances double 
determinations have been done and the average has been taken. 
(2) The oxygen-combining power of the blood (hemoglobin), - 
in most instances calculated from the determination of the hemo- 
globin by Palmer’s method.’ (3) The difference between the 
oxygen in the venous blood and the total oxygen-combining power 
of the hemoglobin. 
This last figure is important. It is difficult to attach much 
significance to the figure for the venous oxygen, unless we know 
what percentage of the total oxygen-combining power of the 
hemoglobin the venous oxygen represents. The venous oxygen 
uncontrolled by hemoglobin determinations is as inicomplete as 
a nitrogen excretion considered without relationship to the nitro- 
gen intake. We have termed the difference between the venous 
oxygen and the total oxygen-combining power of the hemoglobin 
6T am greatly indebted to Dr. Walter W. Palmer, who has done the 
majority of these determinations. 
