402 [Jan. 15, 



ing, and also adhering to the bottom and sides of the vessel. These 

 clots were in sufficient quantity to be collected and washed in the 

 filter to free them from blood-cells and other impurities. The 

 washed portion, under the microscope, had the distinct appearance 

 of fibrin. 



In cases where the albumen had not sufficient time to be mingled 

 with the blood, little or no fibrin was formed. The time occupied for 

 its absorption varied from about ten to twenty hours. 



In the experiments which I conducted with albumen alone, I ex- 

 perienced at first some difficulty in obtaining the albumen perfectly 

 pure, on account of the presence of chalazse and other foreign matter. 

 To obviate this difficulty, I found that, by adding one drop of glacial 

 acetic acid to every white of egg employed, and then by well beating 

 up the albumen, I obtained, on subsequent filtration, a clear solution 

 which gave to litmus-paper a slightly acid reaction. On placing this 

 transparent albumen in the ordinary apparatus, I found, after the 

 passage of oxygen gas for four hours at the temperature before stated, 

 that fibrin began to be formed. I found that, by placing coils of 

 platinum wire in the albumen whilst undergoing oxidation, the 

 formation of fibrin was not only greatly facilitated, but its sub- 

 sequent separation from the rest of the albumen was accomplished 

 with greater ease, as the fibrin hung in threads upon the platinum 

 wire. When platinized platinum was used, the formation of fibrin, as 

 might have been expected, was slightly improved. 



Fibrin produced artificially in these experiments, and especially 

 that formed on platinum wire, had a beautiful and regular arrange- 

 ment, mostly being deposited in parallel lines. The fibrin likewise 

 was whiter, and had a more delicate consistence than the common 

 fibrin in blood. 



I next tried the effect of adding a small quantity of a strong solu- 

 tion of ammonia to the albumen, which had naturally a slightly alka- 

 line reaction ; and then it was subjected to the influence of a current 

 of oxygen in the same manner as in the preceding experiments. I 

 found that fibrin was formed to a much smaller extent than when acid 

 albumen was employed. The ammonia in all cases appears to be 

 driven off to some extent by the oxygen, but was never entirely re- 

 moved. The fibrin in this case formed on the surface of the liquid, 

 and did not appear to be dissolved as the experiment was progressing. 



