FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE MACROPOLYCYTE

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Abstract
The definition of the macropolycyte is given, and the author suggests that the vast majority of the so-called megakaryocytes found in the blood stream belong to one or the other class of macropolycyte. The Arneth count is described, and the significance of variation from the normal count in infections is discussed. Macropolycytes of type I are found in health and in infections and in pernicious anemia. The type II macropolycyte, a cell closely resembling the megakaryocyte of the marrow, is found in pernicious anemia only. In health the polynuclear count is:[long dash]I, 10; II, 25; III, 47; IV, 16; V, 12. In infections the older cells of classes IV and V disappear from the circulation, and the cells of classes I and II increase. In pernicious anemia there is a large increase in percentage in the cells of classes IV and V. It is suggested that the macropolycyte found in health and in infections is due to the imprisonment of a polymorph in some tissue space where it has exceeded its allotted span of life, 3 weeks, and continued to develop beyond the normal limits. The presence of macropolycytes of type I in pernicious anemia is closely related with the factors responsible for the production of hypersegmentation in the nuclei of the polymorph in this disease. The megakaryocytic type may be the product of abnormal reversion of the hemopoietic tissue, or of abnormal myeloid metaplasia occurring in the liver and hemo-lymph glands.

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