so* Mr. T. Andrews's Chemical Researches 



merits of Dr. Thomson. In order to separate the globules, » 

 he merely washed the crassamentum (drained of its serum), 

 and evaporated the solution thus obtained ; but it is evident 

 that in this way " a portion of serum containing albumen," 

 which could never be appreciated, varying with the bulk of 

 the coagulum, " would be added to the colouring matter, and 

 have the effect of apparently increasing its quantity." In one 

 experiment, he found in this way the red globules to be 27'4< 

 per cent. ; while the albumen and salts only amounted to 5*9 

 per cent. : in another the red globules were 2S'2 per cent., and 

 the albumen 7*5. Fortunately, however, he has stated the 

 water in the crassamentum, as well as its proportion to the 

 serum, from which, and the composition of the serum, the re- 

 lative proportion of the constituents of the specimens of blood 

 which he analysed may readily be calculated as follows : 



Water 70-76 . . 67'96 



Albumen and salts . . . 13-53 . . 15-83 



Red globules 15-33 . . 14.-87 



Fibrin -38 . . 1-34. 



100-00 100-00 

 These results do not perfectly agree with my own experi- 

 ments, but the coincidence is sufficient to confirm the deduc- 

 tions which I have made from them. The analysis of the se- 

 rum by Dr. Thomson proves also that the salts are in every 

 respect normal; and I cannot therefore avoid concluding that 

 the experiments of Dr. O'Shaughnessy are inexact. Unless 

 Dr. Clanny will publish with more detail the methods he has 

 followed in analysing both health}' and diseased blood, it will 

 be difficult to understand how he has arrived at his conclusions. 

 It may be right, however, to observe, that the amount of re- 

 sidual carbon obtained by calcining albumen, globules, or any 

 proximate principle, will not depend on the organic matter 

 itself, but on the salts, and especially on the phosphates which 

 may be present ; for these by fusing protect the carbon from 

 combustion ; but if they are previously removed, then the 

 " free carbon " of Dr. Clanny will speedily disappear by cal- 

 cination even in a covered crucible. 



If these experiments and those of Dr. Thomson can be re- 

 lied upon, the principles upon which the saline treatment is 

 founded are evidently false. To introduce a small quantity of 

 inert saline matter into the stomach will certainly be as ineffi- 

 cacious in the cure of diseases, as it is innocuous : but it is a 

 question of very great importance to determine, whether the 

 addition of a large portion of salts to the blood by infusion 

 into the veins (introduced with an intention of supplying a 



