Dumbbell-diffusion screening for carbon monoxide, volatile alcohols, and chlorinated hydrocarbons in blood.

1T HE DUMBELL-DIFFUSION CELL described by Nobel (1) is made from a ball and socket joint, each end of which is formed into a bell-shaped flask. This cell is applicable to rapid testing of blood for the presence or absence of various toxic constituents. it allows diffusion, absorption, and i(lentiflcation reactions to proceed concurrently under a variety of conditions (Table 1). [sing this apparatus, carbon rnofloXi(le can l)e (letermine(l semiquantitatively in 10 mm. at room temperature by placing a filter-paper dhsc, impregnated with palladium chloride, in tile junction between the ball and socket members of tile joint. To decrease the reaction time required for volatile alcohols and chlorinated hydrocarbons, tile entire cell can be immersed in an oscillating water bath at 100#{176}. The choice of chemical methods was based on previous work by Gettler and Freimuth (2) and by Feldstem and Klellshoj (3).