368 Dr, Rainy on the Action of [Nov, 



experiments was dilute. A saturated solution does not ap- 

 pear to have any effect in dissolving fibrin : but a mixture 

 of equal parts of saturated solution and water acts distinctly ; 

 and when the saturated solution is diluted with four or five 

 times its bulk of water, it acts still more rapidly. I have 

 not ascertained what degree of dilution produces the most 

 effective solutions, but a solution diluted with five times 

 its bulk of water, acts more powerfully than a stronger 

 solution. 



8. From some trials I am inclined to think that by far 

 the greater part of the fibrin dissolved is coagulated and 

 precipitated by heat. When this is deposited the solution 

 still retains a minute portion of animal matter, apparently 

 similar to that which is extracted from fibrin by boiling it 

 in water. 



9 . Solutions of muriate of ammonia, muriate of lime, muriate 

 ofharytes, nitrate of potash, sulphate of soda, tartrate of potash 

 and soda, and acetate of soda, have exactly the same effect 

 on the fibrin of human blood, that solution of muriate of 

 soda has. They dissolve by far the greater part of the 

 fibrin, leaving a slight residuum which is either of a mucous 

 consistence, or whitish, and without cohesion. The solution 

 coagulates about 130° Fahr., depositing white flocculi. In 

 like manner fibrin, if once heated to 130°, is not affected 

 by any of these solutions. It is very probable that many 

 of the salts which I have not tried produce similar effects. 

 Solutions of hydriodate of potash, and of subborate of soda, 

 dissolve the fibrin, but do not coagulate when heated. I 

 believe they prevent the coagulation of ordinary albumen. 



10. The above experiments were made, as I have stated, 

 on fibrin of human blood. The experiments which I have 

 made on the fibrin oi ox blood, and sheep blood, have given 

 different results. Fibrin from these sources does, indeed, 

 yield some albuminous matter to the saline solutions, but it 

 is in small quantity. The fibrin retains its cohesion, and 

 the liquid only yields a slight muddiness, or, at most, a very 

 few flocculi when boiled. The solutions of muriate of am- 

 monia, common salt, nitre, and sulphate of soda, appear to 

 be the most effective. 



11. I have made some experiments on the action of some 

 of these solutions, on muscular fibre, freed as much as pos- 



