Page images
PDF
EPUB

deprived of its loosely-combined oxygen, and the spectroscope shows no longer the two bands of oxyhæmoglobin, but the single band of reduced hæmoglobin. In this condition it remains, without undergoing further change, for an indefinite time, completely resisting all putrefactive decomposition. Hæmoglobin, then, which is so readily decomposed by acids, alkalies, high temperature in presence of water, is unaffected by putrefaction, differing markedly from albumin, which in sealed tubes decomposes with formation of CO,, NH,, leucin, tyrosin, &c. The action of the pancreatic ferment agrees with that of the putrefactive bacteria, and this agreement is borne out by the complete resistance which hæmoglobin offers to the action of trypsin, while the presence of free oxygen is not necessary for the action of this ferment on albumin. Carbonic oxide hæmoglobin resembles hæmoglobin in completely resisting the action of putrefaction or of pancreatic digestion. This peculiarity may be very useful for the detection of poisoning by CO, and the blood from such cases may be preserved for years without undergoing change. Hæmoglobin may be used as a test for CO, as for free oxygen. The degree of delicacy of the test has not yet been determined, but it must be even greater than in the case of oxygen.

A very interesting series of observations were made on the free oxygen of the secretions of the different glands, using a solution of hæmoglobin as the test. The solution and the secretion as it flowed from the duct were brought into contact, the air being excluded. The saliva of the parotid and the submaxillary glands contained free oxygen, and the spectroscope showed the formation in the experimental tube of oxyhæmoglobin, while the bile and the urine produced no change in the hæmoglobin, and consequently contained no free oxygen.

A series of analyses of the crystallised oxyhæmoglobin of the horse gave the following mean composition:

C. 54.87

H. 6.97

N. 17-31

S. 0.65

Fe. 0.47

The nitrogen, which was estimated by combustion with copper oxide, comes out much higher than in the former analyses of the hæmoglobin of the dog, guinea pig, goose, and squirrel. In these the estimation was made by the method of Will Varentrapp.

When oxyhemoglobin is acted on by ozone, by putrefaction in contact with the air, or by the pancreatic ferment, it undergoes a change which is shown by the appearance of an absorption band in the red part of the spectrum. The substance which gives this band was named by Hoppe Seyler methæmoglobin, but he was unable at the time to decide whether this was a separate body, or whether it was a mixture of albumin and

hæmatin. Since then it has been supposed by various chemists that methæmoglobin was oxyhæmoglobin in a higher state of oxidation-in fact, a per-oxyhæmoglobin. No further proof, however, of this was adduced than its formation by oxidising agents. The fact that this substance is formed when arsenuretted hydrogen or sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through oxyhæmoglobin makes the oxidation theory very improbable, and recent observation has completely disproved this view. If a piece of palladium foil impregnated with hydrogen be brought into contact with a solution of oxyhæmoglobin, the colouring matter becomes converted into methæmoglobin. Here the hydrogen takes some of the oxygen to form water; hence, methæmoglobin must contain not more but less oxygen than oxyhæmoglobin. When a solution of methæmoglobin is submitted to putrefaction in a sealed tube, the band in the red soon disappears, and the spectroscope shows hæmoglobin only. If with suitable precautions the tube be broken and the access of oxygen allowed, oxyhemoglobin is again obtained and may be crystallised. It is not yet quite disproved, although very improbable, that from hæmatin and an albumin hæmoglobin can be reconstituted, but the relatively rapid transformation of methæmoglobin into hæmoglobin by reduction, distinguishes at once this body from hæmatin, which may be recognised by addition of ammonium sulphide to its solution, since in presence of an albumin hæmatin yields hæmochromogen, and methæmoglobin yields hæmoglobin. As the result of his former and more recent observations, Hoppe Seyler concludes that methæmoglobin is a compound which, even in the absence of oxygen, is split up by acids or alkalies into hæmatin and an albumin, and in which the iron exists in the condition of oxide; whilst in hæmochromogen, hæmoglobin, and oxyhæmoglobin it exists in the condition of suboxide. If by any influence, oxyhæmoglobin is split up, hæmochromogen, O, and albumin result. The hæmochromogen, like hydrated suboxide of iron, indigo white, and many other substances, is able to decompose the oxygen molecule, and oxidising itself with one atom of the molecule, sets the other free. This, being in the active condition, changes the oxyhemoglobin, which still exists, into methæmoglobin. By this view is explained that in the coagulation of oxyhemoglobin solution by heat, with or without the previous addition of acid, methæmoglobin is formed, as well as hæmatin (it is from this methæmoglobin, and not from the hæmatin, that the reconstruction of the hæmoglobin spoken of above probably takes place); and further, that in the splitting of oxyhæmoglobin, fatty acids, as acetic and butyric acids, are formed.-Zeitschrift f. physiologische Chemie, I., 121, and II., 149.

J. M. P.

TREATMENT OF SANGUINEOUS CEREBRAL APOPLEXY BY HYPODERMIC

INJECTION OF ERGOTINE.

DR. N. S. FOSTER observes that the utility of the subcutaneous injection for the exhibition of the active principle of ergot, on account of the rapidity and comparative certainty of its action, has been most successfully demonstrated in cases of post partum hæmorrhage. From the explanation given of its inducing contraction of the smaller arteries, and from the facility of its administration, especially in cases where swallowing is at least very difficult, he was led to use it in cases of cerebral apoplexy and also of hæmoptysis. He records two cases, in each of which the patient was attacked with symptoms characteristic of an apoplectic lesion, the coma gradually deepening. On the injection of ergotine into the arm the comatose state became stationary and the grave symptoms rapidly passed off. (Lancet, Sept. 21, 1878.)—Practitioner, October, 1878.

J. W. M.

A CYSTINE CALCULUS.

M. GAUJOT describes a case of cystine calculus in the Bulletin et Mémoires de la Société de Chirurgie, Nov. 3, 1878. The patient was a man aged twenty-five, who was admitted into the Val-de-Grâce on May 30th, 1877. The first symptoms of stone appeared in 1876. The calculus was removed by the prerectal incision, and the patient recovered in five weeks. The stone weighed 25 grammes (387 grains); it was ovoid in shape, of yellow colour, and had a rugose surface. Its greatest diameter was 44 centimetres (about 13 inches). On section, it presented a homogeneous structure, without nucleus or strata; it was greasy to touch, and friable. Analysis showed it to be composed of cystine, with traces of phosphate and sulphate of lime, mucus, and fatty matter.-London Medical Record, Nov. 15, 1878.

NEW PREPARATIONS AND SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS. Aperient Fruit Lozenges. Prepared from the bark of the Rhamnus frangula by H. C. BAILDON & SON, Edinburgh.

THESE lozenges are extremely palatable sweetmeats, prepared from the bark of the black alder, Rhamnus frangula. They appear to be very mild in action, and the preparation now introduced is likely to prove satisfactory.

INDEX

TO THE SIXTY-SIXTH VOLUME.

Ablation of the uterus, Professor Dill on,
422.

Abortion, treatment of hæmorrhage fol-
lowing, 323.

Albuminuria, danger of giving active
drugs in, 49.

Althaus, Dr. Julius, diseases of nervous
system, Rev., 114.

Amnii, origin of the liquor, 352.

Amnion, dropsy of the, Dr. Kidd on, 50.
Amphoric resonance, Dr. Nixon on, 345.
Amputation-in spreading traumatic gan-
grene, Dr. Collins on, 15-of upper
extremity, Dr. Whitla on, 329.
Amyl nitrite in tinnitus aurium, 85-
chloroform accidents, 88.
Analysts, work of public, 131.
Anderson, Mr. M. F., phosphates in
nutrition, Rev., 212.

Annandale, Mr. Thomas, on hip disease,
Rev., 213.

Aneurism, abdominal, Dr. Hayden on,
58-diagnosis of, by Dr. Archer, 202—
eructations in thoracic, 184-aortic,
treated by operation, 70-abdominal,
cured by position, Mr. Tufnell's case
of, 179.

Anstie, Dr. F. E., wines in health and
disease, Rev., 301.

Arsenic, dialysed iron an antidote for,

420.

Antiseptic surgery, 39.

Archer, Dr. R. S., on pleural effusion,
71-diagnosis of aneurism by rectal
examination, 202-selected clinical re-
ports, 434.

Ataxy, locomotor, 279.

Ataxy, sensibility in locomotor, 351.
Atropia, hypodermic injections of sul-
phate of, in croup, 452.

Atkins, Dr. Ringrose, fatal case of intes-

tinal obstruction, 431-report on ner-
vous and mental disease, 485.
Atthill, Dr. Lombe, report of Rotunda
Lying-in Hospitals for 1877, 140.

Baths, Stephen's-green, Dublin, 187, 281-
Batty's operation, normal ovariotomy'
216.

Beer, hygiene of, 126.

Bennett, Dr. E. H., occlusion of superior
vena cava (Dr. Williams), 63-fracture
of femur, 65--scrofulous ulceration of
the integument, 175-senile osteopo-
rosis, 272-popliteal artery closed by
catgut ligature, 340-fractures of the
ribs, 365.

Bennett, Dr. James M., chronic cervical
metritis, 287.

Berkart, Dr. J. B., on asthma, Rev., 411.
Bernard, Dr. Walter, on Sayre's suspen-
sion apparatus, 207.

Bigg, Mr. H. Heather, orthopraxy, Rev.,
213.

Binz's elements of therapeutics, by Dr. E.
J. Sparks, Rev., 30.

Blood, defibrinated, for rectal alimenta-
tion, 279-researches on colouring

matter of the, 539.

Boracic acid in skin diseases, 180.
Brain: a journal of neurology, Rev., 298.
Brain, the, in absence of left hand, 493.
Brain softening, 494.

Brains of cyclopians, 430.

Bronchial catarrh from potassium bro-
mide, 536.

Browne, Dr., contracted knee-joint, 332-
oblique fracture of femur, 335.

Browne, Dr. Lennox, diseases of the
throat, Rev., 395-forms for taking
throat and aural cases, Rev., 482.
Bubo, abortive treatment of, 328.
Bulkley, Dr. L. D., archives of derma-
tology, Rev., 308.

Butter, substitutes for, 123.

Cæsarean section, Professor Dill on, 422.
Caffeine as a diuretic, 352.

Calculous disease, by Dr. Fagan, 331.
Cannabis indica, eruption after, 180.

Carbolic acid injection, poisoning by, 420.
Carbonic acid in fever, excretion of, 448.
Carcinoma of liver, 66.

Caries, vertebral, Mr. Coppinger on, 464.
Catarrh, acute intestinal, of infants, 280.
Cameron, Dr. C. A., report on public
health, 123.

Cerebral hæmorrhages, 496-ergotine in,

542.

Cerebro-spinal affections, diagnosis of,
497.

Chiene, Dr. John, lectures on surgical
anatomy, Rev., 408.

Chloral, 48-injections of, in cholera, 449.
Chloroform accidents, nitrite of amyl in,
88.

Cholecystotomy in dropsy of the gall-
bladder, 35.

Cholera, recent works on, Rev., 387-
hypodermic injections of chloral in,
449-in America in 1873, Rev., 393.
Chrysophanic acid ointment in psoriasis,
87-in von Hebra's clinic at Vienna,
280.

Cleland, Professor, on brains of cyclo-
pians, 430.

Clinical records, 71, 179, 434, 533.
Clutton, Mr. H. H, Esmarch's surgeon's
handbook, Rev., 473.

College of Physicians, transactions of the
Medical Society of the, 505.

Colles, Mr. Wm., on necrosis without
suppuration, 453.

Colles's fracture, 31.

Collins, Dr. E. W., on amputation in
spreading traumatic gangrene, 15-
fracture of femur, 268-fracture of
sphenoid, 342.

Commentaries on diseases of the kidneys,
by Dr. Foot, 518.

Compensatory emphysema, Dr. Harvey
on so-called, 509.

Contagion, Dr. Grimshaw on the intimate
nature of, 1, 89.

Contagious Diseases Acts, Mr. Grant's
replies on, Rev., 478.

Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878,
Rev., 483.

Continuous currents in sciatica, 87.
Contraction, Pflüger's law of, 445.
Contractility of the capillary blood-ves-
sels, S. Stricker on the, 447.

Coppinger, Mr. C., on two cases of
vertebral caries, 464.

Core, Dr., hydatidiform mole, 334.

Cork Medico-Chirurgical Society, trans-
actions of the, 431.

Cornea, nerve-terminations in the epithe-
lium of the, 445.

Cottle, Mr. E. W., hair in health and
disease, Rev., 307.

Cowls, 125.

Cranioclasm and cephalotripsy, 325.

Croup, hypodermic injections of atropia
in, 452.

Cunningham, Dr. D. D., researches on
cholera in India, Rev., 388.
Cyclopians, brains of, 430.
Cystine calculus, 542.

Daltonism, 49.

Darby, Dr., President's Address to Obste-
trical Society, 515.

Davis, Dr. N. S., medical education in
the United States, Rev., 411.
Death, a novel cause of, 419.
Dempsey, Dr., case of double vagina and
os uteri, 427.

Dialysed iron as an antidote for arsenic,
420.

Diaphragmatic hernia, Dr. T. E. Little
on, 60.

Dill, Professor, version versus forceps,
335-gastro-elytrotomy and ablation of
the uterus, 422.
Diphtheria, ice in, 353.

Dedrickson, Dr., ergot in heat-apoplexy,
285.

Dropsy of the amnion, Dr. Kidd on, 50.
Drowned, how to restore the apparently,
354.

Dublin Obstetrical Society, proceedings

of the, 50, 140, 227, 515-Pathological
Society, proceedings of the, 58, 166,
263, 340.

Duffey, Dr. G. F., periscope, 85, 185,
278, 350, 539.

Duhring, Dr. L. A., atlas of skin diseases,
Rev., 308.

Dura mater, nerves of the, 485.

Dutt, Udoy C., Hindu materia medica,
Rev., 210.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »