CHAP. III.] THE BLOOD IN DISEASE. 167 



Of these 20 were cases of mitral stenosis, 4 of mitral regurgitation, 2 of 

 aortic stenosis, and 5 of aortic regurgitation. 29 of the 31 were affected 

 with dropsy, and 27 had a cachectic appearance, the skin being pallid, 

 yellowish and generally discoloured. 

 Analysis of 1000 parts of blood : 



Mean. Maxima. Minima. 



Density of the blood 1050-19 

 Water 815-82 



Blood-corpuscles 110'03 148-55 73-50 



Solids of the Serum 71*60 81-10 52-40 



Fibrin 2-55 4*47 1-30 



Density of the Serum 1025'02 1032-50 1022-30 



D. THE BLOOD IN DISEASES OF THE LUNGS. 



In acute inflammatory affections of these organs, the blood 

 exhibits in a highly characteristic manner the properties which it 

 acquires whenever a sufficiently extensive and acute inflammatory 

 change occurs. 



In pneumonia, especially, the blood becomes 'buffed and cupped' 

 and from it very much larger quantities of fibrin may be obtained 

 than from normal blood. 



The following are the mean results of the determination of the 

 fibrin in several forms of acute pulmonary affections made by 

 Becquerel and Rodier: 



Fibrin. 



In acute bronchitis 1000 parts of blood yielded 4'8 grms. 

 acute pleurisy frl 



. (first blood-letting ,. 7'4 

 acute pneumonia { -, -,-, -, , ~. Q 



(second blood-letting 68 



In chronic lung diseases, especially in phthisis pulmonalis, there 

 is invariably a considerable degree of anaemia, with marked 

 diminution in the number of coloured blood-corpuscles. It is alleged 

 that in phthisis, the amount of fibrin is frequently very much in- 

 creased. 



E. THE BLOOD IN DISEASES OF THE LIVEK. 



In affections of the liver in which, through an obstruction to the 

 flow of bile, jaundice occurs, there is always an accumulation of bili- 

 rubin in the blood, and from their passage into the urine in some cases, 

 we may doubtless assume the frequent concomitant presence of salts 

 of the bile acids. In cases of acute yellow atrophy the blood contains 

 leucine and ty rosin e, and doubtless (though the fact has not been 

 directly ascertained) the amount of urea in the blood is diminished. 



A diminution of the red blood-corpuscles occurs in the course of 

 organic diseases of the liver, as is evidenced by the pale sallow face 

 of patients affected with cirrhosis. 



