Observations and experiments with the microscope, on the chemical effects of chloral hydrate, chloroform, prussic acid, and other agents, on the blood / by Thomas Shearman Ralph.

  • Ralph, T. S. (Thomas Shearman), 1813-1892.
Date:
[1871?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations and experiments with the microscope, on the chemical effects of chloral hydrate, chloroform, prussic acid, and other agents, on the blood / by Thomas Shearman Ralph. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    4 • y Observations and Experiments with the Microscope, on the Chemical Effects of Chloral Hydrate, Chlo- roformi, Prussic Acid, and other agents, on the Blood. By Thomas Shearman Ralph, M.K.C.S., Eng., &c. [Read before the Medical Society of Victoria, 1st February, 1871.] Mr. President and gentlemen,—On a former occasion, now five years ago, I had the honor of reading before the Medical Society of Victoria, a paper entitled, “ Observations and Experiments with the Microscope, on the effects of Prussic Acid on the Animal Economy,” in which I pointed out the specific or chemical action of that agent on the blood, viz : that the iron was laid hold of by the cyanogen, and the result was the formation of prussian blue, or some cyanic com- pound of iron. Accompanying this remarkable change, was another, which I also pointed out.' That certain oval bodies, closely resem- bling starch grains, were formed ; these bodies turning blue under the action of iodine, and polarizing, were seen to form in the field of the microscope. After my communication on the effects of Prussic Acid, I in- vestigated the action of another chemical agent, which exhibits decided effects on the corpuscles of the blood, when applied to them out of the body ; namely, Ammonio-Sulphate of Copper. When blood is allowed to flow into a solution of this compound, it is found that the contained matter of the red corpuscles cannot pass out: for when blood is drawn and placed in a thin film on glass, and exa- mined under the microscope, it is found that the major part of the corpuscles gives up the contained matter, and the empty cell walls or coverings remain behind. This is well seen on applying a solu- tion of magenta to blood under the microscope ; the field becomes occupied by a vast amount of granular matter, coloured red by the dye; while the cell walls or envelopes lie in abundance uncoloured; or at the most presenting to the eye of the observer, the red molecule first pointed out by Dr. Wm. Roberts, of Manchester, in 1863, and also brought further into notice by Professor Halford, in 1864, before this Society.* My experiments with this agent, Ammonio-Sulphate of Copper, go to show, that while the corpuscles * Australian Medical Journal, vol. ix., 1864.