Abstract
In 316 specimens submitted for the determination of the degree of pigmentation of the serum by the method of Meulengracht 1 the direct diazo reaction described by Van den Bergh 2 was also carried out. The table shows the relationship found between the results of the 2 tests. When the icteric index was high practically all specimens gave a positive diazo reaction, but when it was low the number of specimens which gave this result was much smaller. The time required for the reaction to become positive also varied with the intensity of the yellow color (amount of bilirubin present). The time was decidedly shorter in the average specimen with a high index than when the index was low. The occurrence of an immediate reaction seemed in most instances to be a part of the expression of this decrease in the reaction time rather than of some independent phenomenon, such as a chemical difference in the nature of the bile pigment present. There were a few rather conspicuous exceptions to this orderly arrangement, and the authors believe that the presence of substances, other than bile pigments, which give the diazo reaction must be considered as a possible explanation for them.
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