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 described. We made counts in oldish and fresh preparations. It is worthy of notice that this case is not uncomplicated, as an amputation of the thigh was performed shortly after the splenectomy on account of gangrene. We found the following figures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Preparations from | Polynuclear | Lymphocytes | Eosinophil | Large | | | | mononuclear ------------------------------------------------------------------------ June 12, 1892 | 81.9% | 15.9% | 1.3% | -- October 11, 1892 | 80.0% | 13.7% | 4.0% | 1.7% September, 1897 | 56.8% | 33.1% | 3.5% | 1.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------------