QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. 137 



method is followed, with the exception that the weight of the 

 moist fibrin is taken instead of the dry residue. 



In estimating the corpuscles, after a number of trials, the 

 process recommended by Figuier was adopted, with a similar 

 modification. Figuier dried the corpuscles after separating 

 them from the serum by filtration, taking advantage of the 

 property of sulphate of soda, which retains them on the filter. 

 He employed this method to separate the corpuscles com- 

 pletely, and investigate their chemical constitution. 1 



In estimating the albumen, the object was, as in the case 

 of the other principles, to obtain -it as nearly as possible in its 

 natural condition, simply changing its form from fluid to 

 semi-solid, without adding any thing which would decompose 

 it, or unite with it. For this purpose absolute alcohol seemed 

 better than heat, nitric acid, the galvanic current, or any other 

 agents by which it is coagulated. 



If the different organic principles be incinerated, the ash 

 will present the characteristic reactions of the chlorides, sul- 

 phates, phosphates, etc., inorganic principles, which, as we 

 have already seen, cannot be separated from the organic con- 

 stituents of the body without destruction of the latter. 



The blood of a healthy male, set. 27 years, weight 170 

 pounds, who had never suffered from disease, taken from the 

 arm at 1 P. M., the last meal having been taken at 8 A. M., 

 furnished the proportions of organic constituents given in the 

 following table. To complete the table, the proportions of 

 inorganic principles, fats, etc., were taken from the analyses 

 of Becquerel and Rodier, to which reference has already been 

 made. The proportion of water is estimated by subtracting 

 the sum of the solid and semi-solid constituents from the 

 entire weight of the blood. 2 



1 Sur une Methode nouvelle pour V Analyse du Sang, et sur la Constitution 

 chimique des Globules sanguim. Par M. L. FIGUIER. (Ann. de Chim. et dc Phys., 

 1814, 3 me serie, tome xi., p. 506.) 



2 Further details of experiments on this subject are contained in the article, to 

 which reference has been made, in the ' American Journal," October, 1 863. 



