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A single-column linear gradient elution procedure for separating ribonucleotides and sugar phosphates on Dowex-1-formate is presented. In the pH range 2.4–4.3, effective separations of mono-, di-, and triphosphates were obtained at relatively low concentrations of formate. Application of the method to the erythrocyte is described. The advantages of linear gradient elution, as compared with extended gradient procedures, are illustrated.

THE serum of Mrs. Y. M., a 34-year-old Memphis negress, was found to be incompatible with all donors cross-matched when she was admitted with vaginal haemorrhage and hypofibrinogenaemia complicating the missed abortion of her eleventh pregnancy. After having five normal live births, her sixth pregnancy resulted in a macerated stillborn at eight months; the last five were missed abortions at four or five months, and hypofibrinogenaemia occurred with four of these. In the management of these pregnancies she was given 16 pints of blood between 1955 and 1957. No evidence of any transfusion reactions could be found in her hospital records.

Summary A simple method for sterilizing andstoring polyethylene catheters has been presented.

Those of us who have had our 25th class reunions will recall that there was a time when a blood transfusion was a formidable procedure to be avoided whenever possible. The technical developments in blood-banking procedures during the last two decades have made blood transfusion appear superficially as simple as ordering an infusion of glucose. Many fail to recognize that it is rather remarkable that blood, the fluid portion of the hematopoietic organ, can be taken from one person and given to another with beneficial effects. With most other tissues, elaborate preparations are necessary before transplantation is attempted, unless donor and recipient are identical twins. It is therefore not surprising that blood transfusions may be complicated by deleterious reactions and should be undertaken only after judicious weighing of expected benefits against potential dangers. The literature describing new developments in transfusion practice has become prohibitively voluminous. In order to help the