1819.] Dr. Prout on Sanguification. 265 
Artic_Le III. 
On the Phenomena of Sanguification, and on the Blood in 
4 general. By W. Prout, M.D. 
(Continued from p. 25.) 
Sanguification—The chyle from the thoracic duct proceeds 
into the sanguiferous system, mixes with the general mass of 
circulating fluids, and almost immediately passes through the 
lungs, where it is exposed to the air, and appears to undergo the 
final process, and to be converted into blood. ‘This process is 
termed respiration; the phenomena of which we shall briefly 
consider under the followimg heads of inquiry. 
First, Whether the phenomena of respiration be the same 7m 
kind in all animals. 
Secondly, Whether any other gas can be substituted for 
oxygen in respiration. 
Thirdly, Whether the phenomena of respiration be the same 
tn degree in different classes of animals compared with one 
another, or in different animals of the same class. 
Fourthly, Whether the phenomena be liable to any differences 
in decree in the same animal at different times. 
Fifthly, Whether the blood as a whole, or in part only, be 
concerned in the production of these phenomena. 
First, With respect to all the more perfect animals which have 
organs of respiration, &c. similar to man, it need only be stated 
generally, that precisely the same appearances take place. In 
the inferior animals, some variations occur which it will be proper 
to notice. Fishes, for example, have no lungs, and do not 
breathe air; it was, however, an early discovery, which has been 
confirmed by all succeeding experimentalists, that these animals 
cannot live in water deprived of air, at least of oxygen, or more 
properly speaking, they all require oxygen to be brought in con- 
tact with their blood, which oxygen 1s converted into carbonic 
acid precisely as in the animals which breathe air. This change 
is most usually effected by the gills, which are in fact their 
Jungs. In some instances, however, it appears to take place 
differently, as, for example, in the cobitis fosstlis, in which a sort 
of double respiration has been observed by Erman. “ In water 
containing air, the fish breathed as usual through its gills; but 
if the water was deprived of its portion of oxygen gas, the fish 
rose above the surface, drew air through its mouth, and swal- 
lowed it. The air penetrated the intestines, the blood-vessels of 
which were reddened ; and when it had lost its portion of oxygen 
gas, the fish discharged it by the rectum.” It has also been lately 
shown by Biot, whose experiments have been still more recently 
confirmed by Configliachi, an Italian professor, and by Mr. Laroche, 
