68 



GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 



(o.) MOIST BLOOD-CORPUSCLES AND LIQUOR SANGUINIS. 



Name of animal. 



2d female Emys terrapin 



3d " 



2d female Emys serrata 



3d " 



4th " 



6th " 



Ttli male " 



Period 

 of; starva- 

 tion add 

 thirst. 



Anniunt 

 of blood 

 consum- 

 ed. 



MOIST 1ILOOD-CORPUSCLES. 



Moist 

 blood-cor- 

 puscles. 



247.28 

 318.84 

 121.60 

 419.28 

 475.60 

 561.56 

 309.04 



Water 

 of moist 

 blood-cor- 

 puscles. 



185.46 

 239.13 

 91.20 

 314.46 

 356.70 

 421.17 

 231.78 



Solid con- 

 stituents of 

 moist blood- 

 corpuscles. 



61.82 



79.71 



30.40 



104.82 



118.90 



140.39 



77.26 



LIQUOR SANGUINIS. 



Liquor 

 sanguinis 



352.72 



481.16 



578.40 



1080.72 



1074.40 



1238.44 



690.96 



Water of 



liquor 

 sanguinis. 



Solid con- 

 stituents 

 of liquor 



sanguinis. 



339.59 



457.19 



564.40 



1039.50 



1033.52 



1174.97 



680.86 



13.13 

 23.97 

 14.00 

 41.22 

 40.80 

 63.49 

 10.10 



A careful review of the results of these analyses and experiments leads to the fol- 

 lowing conclusions : — 



1. In every instance, during ahstinence from food and drink, the water of the 

 hlood diminished more rapidly than the solid constituents. 



The evaporation from the surface of the body and lungs, and the supply of a 

 solvent for the excretions of the kidneys, were more rapid than the consumption of 

 the solid organic, and inorganic constituents of the blood for the regeneration and 

 maintenance of the tissues and organs. 



2. The rapidity of this consumption of the watery element, and consequent con- 

 centration of the blood depends upon the vital and physical constitution of the 

 animal, and is most rapid amongst warm-blooded ones. 



Amongst cold-blooded animals it is slowest in the gopher. The phj'sical consti- 

 tution of the epidermis of this animal prevents evaporation from its surface. Its 

 tissues, also, are more compact than those of other Chelonians. 



The character of the food of this animal, and the structure of its alimentary 

 canal, are such, that it is able to withstand the effects of hunger without any phy- 

 sical or chemical change in the amount and constitution of its blood, or diminution 

 of its powers, much longer than the Chelonians which inhabit the water. 



3. During thirst and starvation, the rapidity of the consumption of the consti- 

 tuents of the blood, organs, and tissues, is in proportion to the temperature, intel- 

 ligence, vital force, and the amount of muscular and nervous force expended by 

 the animals. 



4. The blood-corpuscles waste during starvation, as well as the other consti- 

 tuents of the blood, thus proving that they have important offices to fulfil in the 

 support of the tissues and organs of the living animals, and the maintenance of 

 the vital, nervous, physical, and chemical phenomena. 



5. The fibrin decreases during starvation and thirst. 



Had we considered the amount of fibrin only in 1000 parts of blood, we would 

 have fallen into an error committed by several observers. The increment of the 

 fibrin in 1000 parts was only apparent, and corresponded in a great measure to the 

 concentration of the blood by the rapid evaporation of its water from the surface 

 of the body and lungs. 



