135 



i 1O. The idea, that " the absorption of nitrous 

 oxide by venal blood, is owing to a simple solution 

 of the gas in that fluid, analogous to its solution in 

 water or alkohol *, will by no means obviate the 

 objection to such immense quantities of it entering 

 into the blood ; for it appears, that but a very small 

 diminution of bulk takes place (96.) when this oxide 

 is placed in actual contact with venal blood j and when 

 again it " is carried through the pulmonary veins 

 and left chamber of the heart to the arteries," and 

 made to undergo decomposition, in order that " its 

 oxygen may be chiefly expended in living .action," 

 and its " nitrogen be partially consumed in new 

 combinations f, will not then the oxygen gas be in 

 contact with a fluid, over which, out of the body, it 

 does not "perceptibly diminish j," and the nitrogen 

 gas exist in one over which it ** possesses no power of 

 action, and with which it is incapable of combi- 

 ning || ?" The effects resulting from such admix- 

 tures of aeriform fluids with the blood in the living 

 body, have already (103.) been distinctly noticed. 

 If it be said, that this gas and atmospheric air are 

 received into the blood in a peculiarly modified 

 state as to their gaseous form, then they cannot be 

 supposed to pass entire (93.) through the moist 

 coats of the cells and vessels, but must suffer a pre- 

 vious decomposition in the lungs. If, on the other 

 hand, they do pass entire into that fluid, and if, 

 from its incapacity of combining with the blood, 



* Researches, p. 378. f Ibid. p. 419. 



J Ibid p. 381. I! Ibid, p, 375. 



