477 



The analyses were made by Mr. Dugald Campbell, Analytical 

 Chemist to the Consumption Hospital, and were conducted as 

 follows : 



The blood was placed in a small beaker half-full, fitted with a 

 cork, and was conveyed carefully so as to keep the serum free from 

 the blood-corpuscles. The beaker containing the blood, after stand- 

 ing twenty-four hours, was weighed. 



The serum, perfectly free from red corpuscles, was drained from the 

 coagulum with very great care, and the latter being transferred on 

 to bibulous paper, after standing for the space of four or five hours, 

 was weighed. Two separate portions of coagulum, of from 35 to 40 

 grains, were again weighed, one for the moisture, and the other for 

 the fibrine. The moisture was then entirely removed by means of 

 a water-oven ; from 24 to 36 hours being found necessary for accom- 

 plishing this object, the completion of which was ascertained by the 

 capsule, with its contents, ceasing to lose weight. The portion for 

 the fibrine was removed into a bason, treated with cold water by 

 maceration, until the fibrine appeared to be perfectly colourless, when 

 it was removed on to a previously weighed filter, again washed, and 

 carefully but not too highly dried. The filter and fibrine were next 

 put into a test-tube, and, in order to separate the fat, digested, first 

 with ether and again with alcohol, twice or thrice, then dried by means 

 of a water-bath, and weighed. This weight, less that of the filter, 



VOL. IX. 2 K 



