Some aspects of chronic copper poisoning in sheep.

The variations in an analytical fraction of plasma copper, as well as those of direct and indirect plasma bilirubin, were studied for a period of twenty-three days in ten native crossbred sheep suffering from chronic copper poisoning. The findings of the experiment, which was begun just before the appearance of any acute symptoms, show that the proportion of the above fraction of plasma copper, characterized as "soluble in trichloroacetic acid" (STAPC), represents approximately 45% as a mean percentage of the total plasma copper (TPC), while in the controls it was 12%; further, the former proportion, despite progressive reduction in the absolute values on the respective concentrations, shows, at least during the course of the experiment, a relatively small decrease, while in the controls it remains constant. Further findings regarding direct and indirect plasma bilirubin are discussed.