ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



On Changes of Form in the Hed Corpuscles of Human 

 Blood. By William Addison, M.D., F.R.S. 



In the natural history of plants and animals, the relations 

 between different parts of the structure of an individual 

 have, on many occasions, been established by the study of 

 malformations or irregularities. 



In botany, the relation of stamens and petals to leaves has 

 been made out by irregularity in the structure of the flower ; 

 and in human anatomy, the relations and uses of an organ 

 have been illustrated by some malformation — some departure 

 of it from the normal form. 



In any effort made to distinguish the relations subsisting 

 between the two principal elements of blood, and between 

 these and outward things, it must be remembered that the 

 corpuscles are in contact with the liquor sanguinis, and 

 that they come into contact with air in the lungs. Also that 

 the liquor sanguinis is replenished by diet — food and drink, 

 and that the corpuscles of the blood swim in it. 



The offices of the stomach are more closely associated with 

 the liquor sanguinis than with the corpuscles ; whereas the 

 office of the lungs has chieflj^ do with the corpuscles. 



These several relations (1) between the two parts of the 

 blood, (2) between articles of diet and the liquor sanguinis, 

 and (3) between the corpuscles of blood and the air, are 

 sketched in the following diagram : 



Diet- 



Blood. 



Corpuscles, 

 and 



Liquor sanguinis. 



-Air. 



It follows that the corpuscles may have their properties 



VOL. I. — NEW SER. G 



