HEMOGLOBIN 



HAEMOGLOBIN 



The substance that gives to the red blood -corpuscles their char- 

 acteristic color is haemoglobin, which has the important function^ 

 of being the oxygen -carrier of the corpuscle. The haemoglobin of 

 most mammals crystallizes in the form of rhombic prisms of a red 

 color. That of the rat crystallizes quite readily. 



FIG. 64. CRYSTALS OP HEMOGLOBIN. (RANVIER.) 



A, B. Of man. 



C. Of cat. 



D. Of guinea pig. 



E. Of hamster. 



F. Of squirrel. 



Haematoidin and haemosiderin are substances derived from 

 haemoglobin often found in pathological tissues, as after haemor- 

 rhages. Haemosiderin contains iron, and occurs as yellow or brown 

 granules. Haematoidin, which is the same as bilirubin, contains 

 no iron, and occurs as granules or rhombic plates of a yellow to 

 brown color. 



