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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    fluid. In both these instances I have no doubt Formyl, or Formic Acid, attacks the iron combined with the fluids or tissue of the plant. I can adduce a number of similar experiments, carried out with the same chemical agents, which more or less yield evidence of a similar kind of reaction ; but this would prove tedious and superfluous. I now proceed to sum up my experiments. Hydrate of Chloral administered by the stomach or subcutaneously injected gives rise to the production of bright red or dark red particles, masses, or globules, in the blood. Starchy bodies are also met with accom- panying these charges. The urine also exhibits these bodies. The same results follow, when vapour of Hydrate of Chloral is applied to fresh drawn blood. Ammonia, administered by the lungs, or subcutaneously injected during the action of Hydrate of Chloral on the animal economy, appears to heighten these effects. Formic Acid added to fresh blood also causes the production of dark red globules and particles. Lactic Acid conjoined with Prussic Acid does the same. Prussic Acid and Ammonia conjoined yields the same results. The action of Hydrate of Chloral, while decomposing under Am- monia on a salt of iron, presents changes which to my mind are identical. The chemical effects of Hydrate of Chloral and Ammonia, of Prussic Acid and Ammonia, on some vegetable tissues, appear to be much the same in character as those produced in the blood, minus of course, the solid albuminous matter. All these results I refer to the action of Formyl or Ammonio-formate on the iron in the blood, or in the vegetable tissues. The decomposition of Lactic Acid with Prussic Acid can supply chemically the elements necessary for the production of Formyl or Formate of Ammonia ; as also Prussic Acid and Ammonia. There are one or two more experiments to which I must refer, i.e., the chloroformed rat, in which the blood was noticed to be reddish, but scarcely any red matter was seen. It would appear the chemical condition of the blood is not capable of readily decom- posing Chloroform ; such also is the case, I believe, with Hydrate of Chloral applied to the blood out of the body ; but when the vapour of Chloroform, or the Hydrate of Chloral is applied, then the red particles make their appearance. Here is another remarkable occurrence which receives its solution from the forementioned experiments. Some blood was accidentally examined after wine (Keisling) had been taken; this was with the view of exhibiting the action of Prussic Acid on iron in the blood; but it was noticed little or no reaction could be found after its application ; but a good many red coloured globules and particles were seen, just as if Chloral had been taken. In consequence of this, a small drop of the wine was added to a little blood fresh drawn; the changes seen under the microscope were most remark-