376 Mr. R. Phillips on the Chlorides of Lime and Soda. 



is sufficient to pi'ove that the blood is a fluid sui generis, 

 though a compound of many chemical elements. — We must 

 now speak of the red globules, or of the colouring matter of 

 the blood. 



For some time these have been regarded as a distinct compo- 

 nent part of the crassamentum, as well as the cause of the red 

 colour of the blood: for when the structure of the crassamen- 

 tum is viewed by the microscope, it not only appears fibrous or 

 thread-like, but also reticulated, the interstices of the network 

 being occupied by a greater or less number of red globules, 

 and by a quantity of the serum or watery part ; the effect of 

 the coagulation being to entangle a part of the red globules 

 and s«rum : whence, if the coagulum be sliced and cut into 

 small pieces, a quantity of serum makes its escape, in addition 

 to what was separated from the mass of blood at the time of 

 its coagulation. Now, as the red globules are the heaviest part 

 of the blood, they subside to the lower part of the clot or co- 

 agulum at the time of its formation ; and consequently it might 

 be inferred that if the blood coagulates very slowly, these 

 globules will have an opportunity of subsiding completely 

 from the upper portion of the clot, and the clot will thence be 

 devoid of its red colour ; and as the blood which is drawn 

 from a person labouring under severe inflammation, is covered 

 with a yellowish or buffy crust, it is imagined that this is an 

 effect of the slower coagulation of the fibrin allowing the red 

 particles to subside more completely. But a material objection 

 to this theory is, that in most instances the coagulation is 

 actually accelerated in inflammations : indeed we have repeat- 

 edly seen the blood coagulating before the bleeding has been 

 stopped, and assuming the buffy surface; whilst at other times, 

 again, the coagulation has been very slow, but no buffy appear- 

 ance was exhibited. These effects, then, rather seem to depend 

 upon some altered condition of the blood itself. 

 [To be continued.] 



LXXIV. On the Chlorides of Lime and Soda. By R. Phillips, 

 F.R.S. L. 4- E. S-c. 



THESE chlorides have lately excited considerable notice, 

 owing to the reconnnendation of M. Labarraque ; and not 

 only in France, but in this country also : should they be found 

 to possess a moderate share only of the powers which have been 

 attributed to them, they are exceedingly important compounds, 

 and their exact nature as well as their mode of action is intitled 

 to a more careful examination than, as appears to me, they 

 have hitherto received. 



The 



