e and
relative numbers. Their percentage number once rose to 34.6%, and their
absolute quantity amounted at the end of the second year on the average
to 30-50-fold their original number (see table).

=Hence it follows from Kurloff's researches that the spleen of the
guinea-pig plays quite an unimportant part in the formation of the white
blood corpuscles, and that after splenectomy in the first year
compensation occurs only in the lymph-glands, followed in the second
year by a great increase of the eosinophil cells. It is to be
particularly insisted once again that the spleen has nothing at all to
do with the formation of the pseudoeosinophil polynuclear cells, which
are the analogues of the polynuclear neutrophils of man.=

* * * * *

How do observations on man stand in the light of Kurloff's observations,
which might be regarded as depending on peculiarities of the particular
kind of animal?

Completely analogous material is afforded by cases, in which in healthy
people a splenectomy has been necessary in consequence of trauma.
Unfortunately the material available for this purpose is extremely rare;
and it would be of the utmost value if the alterations of the blood in
such a case were systematically studied for a period of years. We have
ourselves begun our observations in two patients directly after the
operation, but were unable to continue them, as death occurred within
the first week after the extirpation. Up to the present only seven cases
of rupture of the spleen with subsequent splenectomy have been
published, as is stated in the collection of cases of v. Beck. In two
only, of these seven cases, one of Riequer's (Breslau) the other of v.
Beck's (Karlsruhe) was a cure effected. Through the courtesy of the
above-mentioned gentlemen, we were able to investigate specimens from
these two patients.

In the case of v. Beck the operation was performed on June 15,
1897. We received a dry blood preparation about 6 months after
operation. Investigation showed a considerable lymphaemia: the
bulk of the lymphocytes belonged to the larger kinds: the
eosinophil cells were certainly not increased. For other
reasons an exact numerical analysis could not be undertaken. We
hope to be able to follow the further course of this case.

In the second case the operation was performed on May 17, 1892,
by Dr Riequer of Breslau, for trauma, and later descr