B. M.
PRASAD
137
White cells. It will be observed from Table II that with the appearance of first symptoms,
the leucocytes begin to increase in number and reach a peak in about a week's time. From a normal
TABLE II
Blood picture of experimental dogs
Date (1938)
29-3 to 6-4 .
8-4 to 18-4 .
20-4 to 30-4 .
2-5 to 12-5 .
1-4 to 6-4 . .
8-4 to 18-4 .
20-4 to 30-4 .
1-5 to 11-5 .
12-5 to 27-5 .
9-3 to 6-4 .
8-4 to 18-4 .
20-4 to 30-4 .
2-5 to 12-5 .
14-5 to 26-5 .
No. of
obser-
vations
6
6
7
11
4
6
6
11
16
6
6
6
6
7
h-b.
present
81.0
76.2
42.0
13.1
80.7
78.3
52.1
15.5
20.0
81.3
81.5
77.1
81.1
81.1
White
cells in
thous-
ands
12.8
14.8
53.3
11.9
12.7
14.2
34.7
34.7
13.6
13.6
13.5
18.8
12.6
12.2
Red cells
in
millions
Differential Counts
Neutrophil
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Dog No. 136
5.9 3.8 21.0 23.6 11.6 2.2
61
(Infected with virulent blood on 8.4.38).
5.7
3.9
1.8
4.2
14.8
16.2
20.0
23.7
12.7
24.6
23.0
12.1
9.5
10.0
6.0
2.0
2.8
1.4
62.8
74.3
48
Dog No. 138
5.7 3.8 21.5 24.0 11.0 1.0
62.5
(Infected with virulent blood on 8.4.38)
5.8
4.7
2.7
2.1
4.2
11.5
13.6
9.7
20.3
19.0
17.7
15.5
25.6
25.2
17.1
21.7
11.8
12.5
6.6
8.0
1.5
3.2
1.4
0.8
62
69
54.3
56
Dog No. 137 (Control)
5.6
5.8
5.6
5.7
6.1
3.5
3.8
4.3
4.5
4.2
19.3
17.1
17.5
18.3
15.3
23.0
25.1
25.1
23.0
23.0
11.5
12.8
13.1
12.5
13.1
2.0
3.8
2.5
2.6
2.0
60
59.8
62.3
61.3
61.4
Lympho-
cyte
22.5
20.8
15.0
17.0
22.0
22.5
18.0
16.0
20.2
21.0
23.0
21.5
23.0
22.3
Eosino
philes
10.0
9.0
4.0
4.0
9.5
9.3
7.1
4.7
5.0
13.0
9.6
9.5
9.6
10.0
Mono-
cyte
6.3
6.0
7.0
30.4
5.5
6.0
6.0
35.2
18.4
6.0
6.8
4.8
5.2
6.3
Baso-
phils
0.3
0.2
0
0
0.2
0.1
0
0
0
10
0.6
0.1
0.3
0.1
Re-
marks
Died
N.B.—Figures show the mean value of the different constituents over the period stated.
of 12570 per c.mm. a rise to 82140 per c.mm. of blood has been noticed. The rise in the number of
leucocytes marks the beginning of the reaction, but the number gradually returns to normal level or
even slightly below it. During the period of marked leucocytosis the percentage of various types of
cells, although not adversely affected, decrease in proportion to increase of neutrophiles which is
about 20 per cent of the normal, with a, shift to the left. Later, there is an increase in the number of
large mono-nuclear to the extent of about 28 per cent on an average, with the reduction in the number
of other cells. A few cells of both myeloblastic and lymphoblastic origin have not infrequently been
observed in the differential count. In the recovering animal the percentage of different types of
cells gradually returns to normal but in cases of fatal infection monocytosis persists.
Red cells. There is a marked decrease in the number of red cells. From a normal of about
five millions prior to inoculation, a decline to about one million per c.mm. of blood has been found.
The decrease in the number of cells becomes noticeable after a lapse of fortnight, although there
may not be any appreciable rise in the temperature, and this decrease may occur even before the
parasites have appeared in the peripheral circulation. In rapidly progressive cases the fall in the
red cell count may, however, be observed earlier. This statement is based on sporadic cases of disease
in dogs not included in the present paper. Table II (Dog Number 138) shows that the process of
restoration of the number of red cells to normal is slow.
Haemoglobin. An examination of Table II shows a marked variation in the blood haemoglobin
content during health and disease ; from a normal of about 14 gm. haemoglobin per 100 c.c. of blood
there is a reduction to about 2.18 gm. The figures further show that during the crisis of the disease
the available haemoglobin is functioning at its maximum capacity. The severe drop in haemoglobin
lowers the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to a point at which it may be insufficient to maintain
life, hence distressing respiratory efforts are manifested in advanced clinical cases.