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THE HAEMATOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINE
Author(s) -
Casleysmith JR
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1960.5
Subject(s) - demography , geography , biology , sociology
SUMMARY Various haematological observations were made on Central Australian aborigines. One group contained some 30 nomadic males living under primitive conditions for most of the year. The second group consisted of about 20 males and 15 females living under urban conditions, on an almost European diet. The nomadic group's diet had a high iron content. The haemoglobin levels of a control group of Europeans in Central Australia were also measured. The haemoglobin and haematocrit values of the nomads were higher than those of the Bungalow males. Both sexes at the Bungalow did not differ significantly from European controls. The erythrocyte counts showed no significant difference between the two male groups. The haemoglobin levels of a group of 16 Europeans living at Alice Springs were almost the same as those of the Bungalow males. The M.C.V's and M.C.H's of the nomads were just greater than those of Europeans, but the Bungalow groups did not differ significantly from either the nomads or Europeans. The M.C.H.C's did not differ significantly between the groups or from European standards. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility studies showed an increase in haemolysis at ‐5N but otherwise were not significantly different from those of Europeans. The aborigines did not differ significantly among themselves. The erythrocyte sedimentation rates were quite raised in all groups of aborigines when compared with Europeans. However, the nomads’ values were less than those of the urban groups.