FIBRIN. 359 



In other diseases, as for instance, in chlorosis, typhus, tuber- 

 culosis, Bright's disease, and carcinoma, there seems only to be an 

 augmentation of the fibrin when an inflammatory complication 

 supervenes ; in carcinoma however, certain observations of Popp 

 and Heller appear to indicate that there is a decided augmentation 

 of the fibrin independently of any inflammatory fever. 



There are no diseases in which we find a constant and certain 

 diminution of the fibrin ; and whenever we find any diminution of 

 the fibrin it is always very slight. 



It is however true that in diseases where a constant diminution 

 of the fibrin has been supposed to exist, we have only rare oppor- 

 tunities of analysing the blood. 



In the lymph of man Marchand and Colberg* found 0*05 2% 

 and in that of the horse Geiger and Schlossbergerf found 0'04 

 of fibrin. 



In the chyle of a horse Simon found 0'075, and in that of a 

 cat Nasse found 0'13f of fibrin. 



The fibrin in the muscles is by no means perfectly identical 

 with spontaneously coagulated fibrin ; it is one of the many species 

 embraced under the generic name of fibrin. J 



We shall return to the consideration of the fibrin of the mus- 

 cles (muscle-fibrin) when we treat of chemical histology ; since, in 

 order correctly to understand its relations, we must have an accu- 

 rate knowledge of the histological elements of muscular tissue. 



The remarks which have been already made on the manner of 

 recognising fibrin, include all that need be stated in reference to 

 the views advanced regarding the coagulated fibrin assumed to be 

 deposited in tissues or exudations. 



In the preceding description of fibrin, a criticism might pro- 

 bably have been expected on the several varieties of this substance, 

 which have been described by different writers as occurring in 

 morbid fluids ; we have, however, made no reference to Nasse's 

 fibrin-discs, to Zimmermann's molecular fibrin, to Rokitansky's 

 pseudofibrin, or to the fibrin of later coagulation, to which 

 Virchow attaches much importance, because we regard discussions 

 on such points as out of place in the department of strict zoo- 

 chemistry; for it is only after the principles of zoo-chemistry 



* Fogg. Ann. Bd. 43, 8. 625-628. 



t Arch. f. phys. Heilk. Bd. 5, S. 392-396. 



$ [Liebig has recently published a memoir on the fibrin of muscular fibre, in 

 which he indicates several points in which it distinctly differs from the fibrin of 

 the blood. See Ann. d. Ch. u.'Pharm. Bd. 73, S. 125. G. E. D.] 



