ABSORPTION SPECTRA OF HÆMOGLOBIN IN SOLUTION AND IN RED BLOOD CORPUSCLES

Abstract

IN 1877 and 1879 Hoppe–Seyler^1,2 put forward the theory that the haemoglobin within the red blood corpuscles is not identical with that which appears in solution after lysis of the corpuscles. He even proposed for the intracorpuscular states of the pigments in arteries and veins the names ‘arterin’ and ‘phlebin’, reserving the names oxyhæmoglobin and hæmoglobin for the corresponding pigments in solution. However, the numerous arguments brought forward by him in support of this theory were soon invalidated by other workers, who found an easy explanation of all his observations without postulating the above theory³. Hoppe–Seyler's theory was soon abandoned, and considered until recently as of purely historical interest. It was, however, recently revived in a slightly different form with fresh evidence in support of it.