The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-12
EXAMINATION OF THE BLOOD.
No symptoms of Poisoning Found by
Mr.. McKInIey's Surgeons.

BUFFALO, Sept. I2-The most fvnpOrr-
ant outcome OF the regular afternoon con-
sultation Of the physicians ar the Aiiburn
residence yesterday was the confirmation
by scientific proof Of the often-repeated
statement that no evidences Of septicae-
mia or blood poisoning. had manifested
themselves Clinical examinations and
the statements OF the patient have inva-
riably failed TO adduce the slightest evi-
dences Of this dreaded complication IL
was decided yesterday 10 count the blood
corpuscles and ascertain by ocular de-
monstrations the ratio Of the white cor
puscIes or leuCocytes 10 the red ones In
the healthy male adult the proportion Of
whites 10 reds is ] in 900 or so.
The examination Of a minute volume OF
blood indicated a normal ratio between
the TWO varieties OF corpuscles. Had sep
ticaemia, sepJico pyaemia. or any peri
toneal Inflammation developed there would
have been an immediate and rapid in
crease In the number Of white corpuscIes.
This process is called IeucocytosIs.
The leucocytgs or white corpuscIes are
the deadly foes OF the streDtococci and
other malignant micrO-organisrns which
develop in the course Of Inflammation OF
blood poisoning. The Ieucocytes attack
these with great violence and a miniature
warfare is waged until one side or the
other succumhs. resulting in either resro-
ration 10 health or "a fatal Termination
The instrument which is used TO emu
merate the blood corpuscles is called a
haema acyto-metre. one Of these instru-
mcnts Of the Covers pattern was taken 10
the MiIburn residence yesterday afternoon
and a minute volume Of blood drawn
from the lobe Of the Presidents left ear.
was prepared for examination The in
hnitely small quantity OF blood 10 De- ex-
amined was first diluted with a given vol
Umc Of a CoIorless salt solution whose
specific gravity was equal TO that OF the
liquid portion Of the normal blood. This
diution was made in order that the orig
iuaI size and shape Of the cOrpuscIes
might be altered as little as pos ihIe
Alter thoroughly mixing the two. a por-
tion OF the resultant quantity was placed
in a cell OF known capacity. The cell area
was divided into squares Of known size
10y the mIcrometer scale in the eve piece
Of the microscope used and the number
Of corpuscIes counted. Having ascertain
ed the number in the diluted blood. il Was
easy by proportion % figure the number
IN a given volume of normal blood The
remarkable advance Iu the construction
ana Improvement OF measuring. count
ing and recording Instruments applicable
20 the human anatomy IN recent years
renders in many instances the coudrma-
tion Of a diagnosis by exact science an
absolute certainty
This is fortunately true in the present
instance. and the Presidents physicians
are moro than happy 10 be able 20 say
that up TO the present instant. no symD-
toms Of blood poisoning or general peri
toaeaI Inflammation, which might result
from the IodGmeut OF the bullet. or from
tho possible escape Of Infectious bacteria
from the gastric wounds into the abdomf-
nal cavity, hay. manifested themselves
Now. when il is nearing the completion
Of the six h day since the infictiou of the
injuries, Il is safe 10 assume that il is
highly improbable and weII-uigh next To
impossible for any such symptoms To de-
VelOp.