[Blood picture changes following single and prolonged oral application of ALG in the dog]

Mongrel dogs were orally treated with 20 mg/kg ALG or NHG respectively. A significant decrease of the peripheral lymphocyte count was observed not only during 6 hours after the application of ALG but also during longtime observation. This lymphocytopenia was found to be between 30% and 50%. The effect of ALG after oral administration is smaller than after i. v. application. All other blood cells remained essentially unaffected by ALG as well as NHG. Whereas the efficacy of i. v. applied ALG is reduced by antibody formation, this cannot be expected to the same degree during oral administration, because the antibody formation is markedly reduced by the oral route of application.