12
The following results were obtained :—
Quinine hydrochloride in
Sheep erythrocytes.
Degree of lysis.
0'85 %
N
aCl.
1 . 0 0 /0 0.05 cc.
Complete.
0.2" Trace.
0.02%
Nil.
Man erythrocytes.
10% 0.05 cc. Complete.
0
.
2 %
Trace.
0
.
0 2 %
Nil.
Quinine sulphate in
0. 85 % NaCl.
0.1%
Trace.
0.005%
Nil.
It is evident that the erythrocytes of both man and sheep are permeable to quinine
salts and that these in certain concentrations will cause the hæmoglobin to diffuse
out of the cells. Quinine sulphate is not sufficiently soluble in neutral saline solutions
to enable a solution of much higher concentration than 0 . 1 per cent. to be prepared,
and this is not sufficient to cause more than a trace of lysis. It is practically certain
therefore that salts of quinine can never be present in the blood in sufficient concen-
tration to cause any lysis of themselves and that the hæmoglobinuria of blackwater
fever witnessed after a dose of quinine, whether sulphate or hydrochloride, cannot be
due to the action of the quinine alone ; some other factor must be superadded. It is
possible that even a trace of quinine in the blood, since it penetrates the erythrocytes,
may render them less resistant to the peculiar lysin which gives rise to
h æ m o g l o b i - n u r i a . E r y t h r o c y t e s a r e i m p e r m e a b l e t o t h e s u l p h a t e s o f s o d i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m a n d i f
they are suspended for some time in solutions of Na 2SO4 they are not altered in their
subsequent behaviour either to a specific lytic serum or to hypotonic solutions.
It is not likely therefore that the presence of quinine sulphate in the blood, as
sulphate, makes the slightest difference in the resistance of the erythrocytes.
(2) Arsenious oxide is very sparingly soluble in water. In concentrations of
0 . 1 per cent. to 0 . 001 per cent. it neither increases nor diminishes the resistance of
either goat, sheep or man erythrocytes to lysis by a specific serum or by hypotonic
solutions. It is probable therefore that the presence of minute quantities of arsenic
in the blood would have no influence on the appearance of hæmoglobinuria. Dr. Gunn
(Brit. Med. Journ., Volume 11, 1908, page 145) states that he has found that arsenic
increases the resistance of erythrocytes to lysis by water. His findings being at
variance with ours we carefully repeated his experiments and neither by his method
nor by ours could we find any increase of resistance indicated.
3.—On the transference of hæmolytic power from parent to offspring.
Goat B serum had been powerfully hæmolytic to sheep erythrocytes for several
months as a result of periodical subcutaneous injections of sheep erythrocytes.
On 10th July 1908 goat B had a kid. When this kid was 7 days old its opales-
cent serum in a concentration of 8 per cent. in 2 cc. of 0 . 85 per cent. NaCI completely
dissolved 0 . 05 cc. washed sheep erythrocytes. On 13th August 1908, when the
kid. was 41 days old., it required 33 per cent. of its serum to give complete lysis.
When 72 days old 33 per cent. serum gave ...
... "not complete" lysis
When 100
66
.
.
. ...
" sl i ght "
When 154
100
.
.
. . . .
"no"
So the lytic power of the serum of this kid passed away entirely within 100 to 154
days of its birth.
During this period goat B was suckling the kid. Her fresh milk dissolved
sheep erythrocytes only slightly, and after heating to 55° C for 30 minutes not at
all. When the fresh milk was complemented by the addition of the serum of a
normal sheep complete lysis was obtained. The milk of goat B therefore contained
plenty of amboceptor for sheep erythrocytes but very little complement.