140 Dr, Buchanan on the Fibrin contained in the Animal Fluids. 



the liquid yielding the colourless coagulum, is found to contain 

 transparent globules and granules swimming through it previous to 

 coagulation. 



This is the case with the milky liquid which collects on the sur- 

 face of inflammatory blood before coagulating into the buffy coat. 

 This liquid has been shown by several observers (Medical Gazette,) 

 to contain innumerable globules before concretion. Still farther, we 

 sec in tliis liquid the same phenomena of successive coagulations which 

 have been described with respect to the blister liquid. 



The validity of the opinion here maintained, may be certainly 

 ascertained by examining the liquid which passes through the filter, 

 in the process for separating fibrin, already referred to. I have only 

 once had an opportunity of making this observation, and it was upon 

 a liquid which was not perfectly colourless, owing to a few of the red 

 corpuscles having passed through the filter along with the transparent 

 corpuscles. This liquid contained innumerable granules and globules 

 floating through it, and these cohered together on coagulation taking 

 place. 



In a case where the evidence of direct observation is required, it is 

 scarcely admissible to argue from the analogies pointed out in this 

 paper. These analogies, however, are not without weight, while the 

 supposition on which the opposite doctrine is founded, of the sudden 

 precipitation of the fibrin dissolved in the blood, without any change 

 of temperature, or the addition of any chemical reagent, is without 

 parallel in chemistry. It reminds us of the sudden precipitation of 

 the sulphate of soda from its saturated solution, but is much less 

 easily explained. 



4. Vessels in fibrinous coagulum.- — Professor Rainy, of this city, 

 discovered some years ago the interesting fact that the fibrinous 

 coagulum which separates from the blood in cases of aneurism, and 

 occupies a large part of the aneurismal dilatations of the artery, is 

 pervaded by numerous tubes or channels, having an arborescent 

 appearance. These are of such a size, that Dr. Rainy succeeded in 

 introducing a fine needle into one of the larger trunks, thus proving 

 the existence of a cavity in their interior. 



( To he continued.) 



BELL AND BAIN, PBINTBBS, GLASGOW. 



