The relation of oxyhæmoglobin to the CO2 of the blood 1

THE relation of the blood proteins to the transport of the C02 by the blood is a problem that has been much debated. In the main there are two opposing views on this subject. According to one view the C02 is partly present as sodium bicarbonate, and partly united to the proteins by chemical combination or adsorption. According to the other view, the C02 is present altogether as alkaline bicarbonate, while the proteins act as acids, and thus compete with the C02 for the alkali, the amount of sodium bicarbonate depending on the concentration of the C02 according to the law of mass action. The early history of the controversy(1-4) has been described fully by Loewy, who inclines to the first of these two views as representing the actual conditions in the body. However during recent years many workers(7, 8) have adopted the view that most of the C02 is present as bicarbonate, the proteins acting as acids. This is largely due to pioneer work of L. J. Henderson(5). Hasselbalch(6) using improved methods introduced his well-known formula for the hydrogen ion concentration of the blood. This has been considered by Joffe and Poulton(l4). The theory of amphoteric electrolytes established by James Walk er(9), follows directly upon the ionic theory and the law of mass