STUDIES IN THE BLOOD CYTOLOGY OF THE RABBIT : II. CONSECUTIVE ERYTHROCYTE AND HEMOGLOBIN OBSERVATIONS ON GROUPS OF NORMAL RABBITS

Observations are reported on the consecutive weekly erythrocyte counts and the hemoglobin contents of the peripheral blood in 5 groups of normal rabbits, comprising 45 animals, during a period of 20 months from October, 1927 to July, 1929. The duration of individual group examinations varied from 8 to 35 weeks. The results are analyzed on the basis of the weekly mean values of each group. On the whole, the erythrocyte values were quite uniform within a narrow range of variation, while the hemoglobin content was comparatively irregular within a wider range of variation. The major changes in the levels of mean values of both the red cells and the hemoglobin, however, were found to be statistically significant. The directions or trends in the levels of the erythrocyte and hemoglobin mean values did not necessarily move in opposite directions. The general levels of the erythrocyte and hemoglobin mean values were not identical for two consecutive years, those of 1927–28 being higher than those of 1928–29. The fluctuations of both red cell and hemoglobin mean values observed in one group of animals were also usually observed in another group examined during the same months.