Studies on acidosis and dyspnea in renal and cardiac disease / Francis W. Peabody, Boston.

  • Peabody, Francis Weld, 1881-1927
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Studies on acidosis and dyspnea in renal and cardiac disease / Francis W. Peabody, Boston. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    investigation has necessarily been temporarily postponed, the work is reported in its present state. METHODS Alveolar Air.—The samples of alveolar air were almost always taken by the Plesch method. A comparative study of various methods of taking samples of alveolar air by Boothby and Peabody10 showed the simplicity and reliability of this method for work with patients. Subsequent use has fully confirmed their opinion. Three separate samples were taken, and almost always a very satisfactory agreement within 2 mm. was found. Occasionally the carbon dioxid tension in one tube fell so far below the others that it was obviously an error, and this figure was discarded. The gas analyses were made with the small Haldane gas-analysis apparatus. The tension of the carbon dioxid in the alveolar air in normal persons usually ranged between 39 mm. and 44 mm. Hydrogen-Ion Concentration of the Blood.—This was determined by means of the concentration cell, since titration and colorimetric methods do not give satisfactory results with blood. The general arrangement of apparatus was exactly like that described by Soren¬ sen.* 11 A platinum wire, calibrated in the physical laboratory of Har¬ vard University, and a standard cell whose voltage was checked in the same laboratory, were used. An Edison nickel accumulator, and a Lippmann capillary electrometer were used. The hydrogen was gen¬ erated in a Kipp apparatus and passed through a pyrogallic acid-potas¬ sium hydroxid s’olution, sulphuric acid, calcium chlorid tube and water before it entered the electrode vessel. All parts of the apparatus were mounted on paraffin blocks to prevent trouble from poor insula¬ tion. The electrodes were controlled by the use of the Sorensen stand¬ ard phosphate solutions. The measurement of the electromotive force, and thus of the hydrogen-ion concentration of simple solutions is comparatively easy by means of the concentration cell. The problem is, however, much more difficult when one is working with blood. This is on account of two features—the high albumin content of blood and the important part played by the carbon dioxid. The albumin content of blood apparently affects both the accuracy with which the readings can be made, and the rapidity with which an end-point is reached. The carbon dioxid is of even greater significance, for the reaction of blood varies according to the carbon dioxid tension at which it is tested. 10. Boothby, Walter M., and Peabody, Francis W.: A Comparison of Meth¬ ods of Obtaining Alveolar Air, The Archives Int. Med., 1914, xiii, 497. 11. Sorensen: Ergebn. d. Physiol., 1912, xii, 393.