1 S 1 3 .] Chemical Properties of Animal Fluids. 1 9 



Article VI. 



General Views of the Composition of Animal Fluids. By J. 

 Berzelius, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in the College of 

 Medicine at Stockholm.* 



Having related to my friend Dr. Marcct some observations 

 that lhave made on the subject of animal chemistry, and being 

 invited by him to communicate them to the Medical and Chirur- 

 gical Society, I shall, in compliance with his wish, venture to 

 submit to the Society some of the principal results that I have 

 obtained at different periods, prior to my visit to this country, 

 respecting the fluids of animals. Most of these observations 

 have been published in a more unconnected state in different 

 works in the Swedish language;! but as they have not been 

 translated into any other language, and as they have appeared to 

 those who have seen them, to contain some new views, I am 

 induced to offer them to the Society, in the hope that they will 

 be received with indulgence. 



T. Of the Blood. 



In most of the analytical researches on blood, that of the 

 bullock has been made the subject of experiment. I shall 

 therefore begin with the analysis of the blood of that animal, 

 and afterwards notice the essential points in which I have found 

 it to differ from the human. 



A. Bullock's Blood. 



Blood may be regarded as a liquid holding a colouring matter 

 suspended in it, but not dissolved. The first step in the process 

 of accurate analysis should therefore be to separate the suspended 

 matter by filtration. But this method succeeds only to a certain 

 degree, and requires a time so considerable, that the blood 

 undergoes spontaneous changes of composition before tlie sepa- 

 ration can be completed : for notwithstanding all possible care, 

 the colouring matter will either pass through with the fluid por- 

 tion, or by adhering in masses, prevent all farther percolation. 

 Another mode is that of allowing it to subside by rest : but this 

 also goes on with extreme slowness : the clear supernatant liquor 

 loses its red colour but very gradually; and the colourless portion 

 is not capable of being collected alone. The usual way of 

 obtaining them separate is to take advantage of the coagulation 



* From the third volume of the Medico-CVa'urgical Transactions, lately 

 published. 



+ In my F.relasninear i Djurkemicn, 2 vol. Btockh. 1808. AcJ also in 

 Afhaudliogar 1 Fytik, .emu ocu Minrralngie, 3 vol. Siucku. IblO. 



