42 EFFECTS OF THIRST AND STARVATION UPON ALLIGATORS. 



Specific Gravities, Water, and Solid Constituents of the Blood. 



Organic and Inorganic Constituents in 1000 parts of Blood. 



If we assume that the blood of both alligators had originally the same relative 

 amounts of organic and inorganic constituents, we may note the following changes 

 during abstinence from food and drink : — 



The amount of water in the blood was diminished, and the solid constituents 

 relatively, not absolutely, increased. 



The number of blood-corpuscles in 1000 parts of blood had increased, whilst in 

 the whole amount of blood originally possessed by the animal they had diminished. 



The relative amount of solid constituents in the serum of 1000 parts of blood, 

 had neither increased nor diminished ; whilst two-thirds of the amount originally 

 existing in the blood of the reptile had been consumed. Therefore, the constituents 

 of the serum wasted more rapidly than the blood-corpuscles. 



The fats and extractive matters were diminished. 



The amount of fibrin was relatively increased from 3.07 to 3.41. Its relative 

 increment did not correspond with the concentration of the blood. It was con- 

 sumed more rapidly thaji the blood-corpuscles, and not so rapidly as the solid con- 

 stituents of the serum. 



The relative increase in the fixed saline constituents correspond, in part, with 

 the concentration of the blood. 



In comparing the blood of one animal with that of another, we determine the 

 influences of starvation and thirst, relatively and not absolutely. If our facts and 

 conclusions were drawn from a few isolated instances, we would be liable to error. 



