A. K. PAL, S. A. MOMIN AND D. N.
MULLICK
121
TABLE II
Seasonal variation in the composition of blood and serum of cows and statistical analysis
(Average of 12 months)
Animal No.
Red cells . . .
White cells . . .
Hb. . . . .
C.
V.
.
.
.
.
M. C. V. . .
M. C. H. . . . .
M. C. H. C. . . .
Iron
.
.
.
.
Inorganic phosphorus .
Sugar
.
.
.
.
Cholesterol . . .
Calcium
.
.
.
.
Magnesium . . .
Non-protein nitrogen .
Protein
.
.
.
.
22
8.4
9.2
10.3
38.5
46.2
12.4
26.7
39.4
4.39
79.1
151
11.0
2.78
34.5
7.4
23
7.8
9.2
10.2
7.5
48.3
13.2
27.4
37.9
4.38
80.6
150
10.9
2.75
36.4
7.1
27
8.2
9.2
10.5
37.9
46.5
12.8
27.8
38.4
4.50
80.5
145
11.3
2.85
36.5
7.5
42
8.6
9.7
10.9
39.5
45.9
12.6
27.5
41.1
4.68
80.6
136
10.8
2.65
34.4
7.1
57
8.0
9.3
10.4
38.3
47.7
12.9
27.1
40.4
4.47
81.1
143
10.9
2.74
35.1
7.6
61
8.2
9.2
10.3
38.5
47.1
12.6
27.0
39.8
4.37
81.8
136
10.9
2.60
36.3
7.6
94
8.0
9.3
10.2
37.0
46.0
12.7
27.6
39.5
4.46
81.1
138
10.8
2.65
36.5
7.6
111
7.9
8.7
10.7
38.3
48.6
13.4
27.8
39.7
4.67
78.7
142
10.1
2.77
36.3
7.3
123
8.6
9.0
11.4
40.3
46.8
13.2
28.5
40.8
4.69
80.6
136
10.1
2.51
34.9
7.3
124
8.4
8.7
10.3
38.5
46.1
12.3
26.8
40.6
4.46
81.2
136
10.18
2.64
36.6
7.2
145
8.4
9.0
11.1
40.2
48.1
13.3
27.6
40.4
4.14
79.8
134
11.1
2.65
36.6
7.3
178
8.2
9.5
10.6
40.0
49.1
13.0
27.8
40.1
4.92
81.2
141
10.6
2.72
36.2
7.2
Mean
8.2
9.2
10.6
38.7
47.2
12.9
27.4
39.8
4.51
80.5
141.0
10.8
2.69
35.9
7.3
S. D.
±0.3855
±0.5639
±0.4942
±1.4709
±2.9120
±0.7578
±1.6707
±1.5701
±0.4723
±3.1221
±11.6685
±0.4579
±0.1839
±2.3677
±0.3938
C. of
vat.
4.7
6.1
4.7
3.8
6.2
5.9
6.1
4.0
10.5
3.9
8.3
4.2
6.8
8.6
5.4
Red corpuscles and white corpuscles. From the
tables, it will be seen that the average values
remained practically constant throughout the year.
However, highly significant differences were found
among individual animals.
Hæmoglobin. Highly significant differences
existed in the monthly averages as well as in the
means of individual animals. Monthly averages
declined gradually from February to June, and
from July they started to increase. It appears
that the concentration of hæmoglobin is inversely
proportional to the change of atmospheric tem-
perature. In South Africa, Hammersma [1937]
studied the seasonal variation of hæmoglobin in
animals and found no significant variation in
monthly averages. Manresa and Orig [1941]
in the Philippines observed that the hæmoglobin
concentration in experimental animals was higher
in winter than in summer. In the United States
Bazett Sunderman, Doupe and Scott [1940],
working on human subjects, found that
a slight variation in the temperature of the
experimental chamber resulted in variation in
the concentration of blood constituents, the
trend of changes being similar to that observed
by us.
Cell-volume. The variation of cell-volume as a
result of change in air temperature resembled that
of hæmoglobin. Statistical analysis showed that
there was highly significant difference among the
monthly averages as well as among the means of
individual animals. This value was inversely
proportional to the change of temperature. The
variation in the composition of body-fluid with
seasonal change helps heat-regulation in the
animal. In summer, the secretions of thyroxine
and adrenaline temporarily inhibit dilation of the
cutaneous capillaries and the increase in plasma
volume helps in giving out the body heat formed in
excess [Kuno. 1935].