Dr. Anderson an the state in which Fibrin exists in the Blood. 203 



the corpuscles may have the function of converting tho "reduced 

 albumen"* of the food, and of the effete elements of the tissues, 

 into organizeable fibrin, which appears first in the chyle along with 

 these corpuscles, after that fluid has passed the mesenteric glands ; 

 and in all likelihood, first in the lymph after it has passed the lym- 

 phatic glands. Yet we find that, in the mixed serums already spoken 

 of, the solidification goes on for days gradually increasing, in the utter 

 absence of corpuscles of any kind, and must, it hence appears probable, 

 be owing to tho progressive formation of fibrin, and not to the mere 

 coagulation of that already formed ; for that, as we see in the blood, is 

 finished within a short time of the death of the fluid. Another proof 

 of the essential difference between the white corpuscles of the blood, 

 and its coagulable matter, is afforded by an elegant experiment, de- 

 scribed by M. Donno.t This consists in agitating the blood during 

 coagulation: tho fibrin is thus separated in stringy morsels, and 

 on leaving the remaining part to stand for some time in a tall glass 

 vessel, the white corpuscles are found forming a thin pale layer 

 between the red globules below and tho clear fluid, to the bottom of 

 which they have subsided. The mode in which the change in the 

 mixed fluids takes place is yet unexplained. 



I believe with Dr. Buchanan, that the increased formation of fibrin 

 in an inflamed part, takes place within the vessels, and therefore in 

 the pure plasma of the blood itself ; but that it is in all likelihood 

 effected by the agency of white corpuscles, which during inflammation 

 become more numerous in tho capillary blood-vessels, and adhere to 

 their walls even more firmly than, in the state of health, they are wont 

 to do ; and thus throw an obstruction in the way of the red globules, 

 which in health form a rapid current in the centre of the vessels.j: 

 Mere stasis does not produce the change, for in simple congestion, 

 however much the blood may be delayed, there is no increase of 

 fibrin — and in determination there is more fibrin formed, though 

 there may be no obstruction, but rather a more rapid flow of blood : 

 in the latter case, however, the vital nutritive action of the part is 

 increased, in the former diminished, and this I take to be the true 

 explanation of the increase of fibrin ; holding it to be produced within 

 the vessels by a greater activity of whatever organ (be it the white 

 corpuscles or no) is in health charged to convert the " reduced albu- 

 men " to organizeable fibrin ; an activity called into play by the in- 

 creased demand for that material in the excited and over active part. 



Thus, then, I think we must still believe that the coagulation of the 

 blood forms an exception to the generality, contended for by Dr. Barry 

 and others,§ of the law that the living tissues are formed directly from 

 cells, 



♦ Prout. + Cours de Microscopie, p. 84. 1843. 



X Williams ; Princ. of Medicine, p. 213. Travers ; Pathology of Inflammation, Ac. 1343. 

 § Various Papers, PhU. Trans. 1838, 1842, Ac. 



