The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-15
COUNTING BLOOD CORPUsCLEs.
Process by Which the Presidents
Physicians Demonstrated That No
Blood Poisoning Existed.

FhyhcIahs demonstrated That No
Blood Poisoning Existed.
From the New York Post.
Buffalo, Sept. 12.-The most import
ant outcome of yesterdays late con-
situations of tie physicians at the Mil
burn residence was the confirmation
by scientific proof of the often-repeat
ed statement that no evidences of sep
ticaemia, or poisoning, had man
ifested themselves. 1t was decided to
count the blood corpuscles, and ascer-
tain by ocular demonstration the ratio
of the white corpuscles, or leucocytes,
to the red ones. In the healthy male
adult the proportion of whites to reds
is / in 400 or 500. The examination of
minute volume of blood indicated
normal ratio between the two kinds
of corpuscles. Had septicaemia, septi-
co-pyaemia, or any peritoneal inflam-
nation developed, there would have
been an immediate and rapid increase
in the number of white corpuscles. The
process is called leucocytosis.
The leucocytes, or white corpuscles.
are the deadly foes of the streptococci
and other malignant micro organisms
which develop in the course of innam-
nation or blood poisoning. The leu
cocytes attack these, and a miniature
warfare is waged until one side or the
other succumbs, resulting in either res
toration to health or a fatal termiha-
ton.
The instrument which is used to
enumerate the blood corpuscles is call
ed haemacytometer. One of these in
struments was taken to the Milburn
residence yesterday afternoon, and a
minute quantity of blood drawn from
the lobe of the Presidents left ear was
prepared for examination. This was
first diluted with a given volume of
a solorless salt solution, whose specific
gravity was equal to that of the liquid
portion of the normal blood. This dilu-
ton was made in order that the orig
inal size and shape of the corpuscles
might be altered as little as possible.
After thoroughly mixing the two a
portion of the resultant quantity was
placed in a cell of known capacity.
The cell area was divided into squares
of known size, by the micrometer scale
in the eye-piece of the microscope used,
and the number of corpuscles counted.
Having ascertained the number in the
diluted blood, it was easy. by proper
ton, TO figure the number in given
volume of normal blood.
The haemacytometer used yesterday
is very delicate instrument, or col
lection of instruments. 1t consists of
a small glass pepette, and, when filled
to a graduated mark on the stem, con-
tains 995 cubic millimeters. To 1t is
attached a rubber tube and glass
mouthpiece to draw up and expel the
liquid to be measured. There is another
capillary pepette with tube and mouth
piece, which is marked to hold five
cubic millimeters. Then there is a glass
jar in which the dilutlon of blood is
performed; a glass rod to stir the
blood and salt solution; needle whose
length can be regulated by a screw;
brass stage plate bearing a glass slide
on which rests a cell OF the depth OF
one-ffth of a mlllimeter. The bottom
of this cell is divided into one tenth
millimeter squares. On the top of the
cell rests a covered glass.
The salt solution used is a standard
one of sodium sulphate, or similar salt
of the specific gravity Of 1925. OF this
995 cubic millimetres are measured out,
and cubic millimetres of freshly
drawn blood Is added The latter guam
tity is measured with the capillary
tube. The mixture now makes 1000
cubic millimetres, which is thoroughly
mixed with the glass rod. The cell II
then filed. and the cover glass placed
over IT, The glass Is held firmly I'm
place by lateral springs. The layer Of