The results of further investigations, which we here shortly repeat in tabular form, shew that in this experiment No. I. we are not dealing with an abnormal phenomenon of an exceptional animal. ------------------------------------------------------ | Number of white blood corpuscles No. of |--------------------------------------------- Expt. | Before the | At the end of | At the end of | splenectomy| the first year| the second year ------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 10,700 | 14,200 | 18,000 2 | 12,000 | 27,600 | 32,000 4 | 15,000 | 19,200 | 19,000 ------------------------------------------------------ Average | 12,600 | 20,333 | 23,300 By estimating the percentage proportion of the single kinds of white corpuscles, Kurloff obtained the following result: Key: A - Number of the Experiment B - Polynuclear granular cells C - Lymphocytes D - Mononuclear E - Eosinophil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- || Before the operation || At the end of the || At the end of the || || first year || second year A || B | C | D | E || B | C | D | E || B | C | D | E ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 || 4782| 3788| 1969| 117|| 4232| 1568| 2101| 170|| 6570| 4410| 1692| 5202 2 || 6276| 3360| 2244| 72|| 5464|16615| 2980|2539|| 5824|20861| 2688| 2240 4 || 6715| 5250| 2595| 450|| 6568|10041| 3686| 96|| 7108| 3009| 2138| 7543 From these researches we draw the following conclusions. 1. The spleen is not an indispensable, vitally important organ for the guinea-pig, since that animal bears splenectomy without loss of health, developes normally, and gains well in weight. 2. The hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the lymph glands, particularly of the mesenteric glands, which develop after the operation correspond to a =lymphocytosis=, which makes its appearance in the course of the first year after the operation so constantly that it may be looked upon as a =characteristic sign of the absence of the spleen=. This increase may amount to double and more. We must therefore assume that the deficiency of splenic function may be met by the lymphatic glandular system. This period of lymphaemia may doubtless in some animals persist for years in exceptional cases; in the majority, however, the lymphaemia diminishes in the course of the first year, and indeed subnormal quantities of lymphocytes may then be produced.