The Microscope. 71 



The great practical importance which attaches itself to the 

 solution of the inquiry regarding the nature and function of this 

 substance, must be my apology for making it the subject of some 

 wider and general remarks. 



The spectroscope, which may now be considered as having 

 fairly entered into the service of medicine, has thrown a flood of 

 light upon this and kindred inquiries, and has revolutionized many 

 theories formerly entertained regarding the mysterious processes 

 within oui' economy, and the results already obtained cannot fail to 

 exert a most important influence upon our conception and treatment 

 of disease. 



No. 2. Browning's two-prism Spectroscope, with tube of glass attached to examine fluids. 



Recent researches, aided by spectroscopic observation have 

 demonstrated, that the blood-crystals, especially the Haemato-crys- 

 talline, are actively at work in the economy to sustain the processes 

 of respiration, oxydation and oxygenation; that they are the true 

 and only carriers of the oxygen of the blood; that through their 

 agency alone is the oxygen of the air attracted to and bound to the 

 blood-corpuscles, which by the heart's action are propelled and 

 carried far into the intricate recesses of the capillary system; that 

 there they part or give up their loosely bound oxygen to the oxidiza- 

 ble tissues, with which they form energetic combinations, that in 

 exchange for their oxygen thus given up, the haemoglobine or 

 haemato-crystalline combines energetically with carbonic acid, the 

 product of combustion, which acid they carry back to the heart and 

 finally to the lungs through the venous tracts, for final elimination. 

 Freed from carbonic acid, they absorb again and again all oxygen 



