The aim of this paper is not to enter exhaustively on the proved or problematic relations of the spleen to the various blood elements either during embryologic life or during extrauterine existence under normal or pathologic hemic conditions; but rather to point out as concisely as possible the variation, or lack of variation, from normal, as found in a series of twenty-six complete blood examinations in a case of splenectomy following traumatic rupture of that organ. The cause for the splenectomy. trauma, afforded an excellent opportunity to observe what effect the removal of a spleen hitherto healthy would have on the elements of a blood unaffected by any hematopoietic disease.
The examinations, made during a busy surgical service, were made at first every day, later every other day, then every third day, each time as nearly at 8 p. m. as was possible. The patient left the hospital and the