74 VITAL PROPERTIES AND RELATIONS OF THE BLOOD. 



Coagulation of the blood itself has been brought forward 

 as a proof of its vitality; for from the experiments of Hunter 

 and Magendie, neither cold nor heat, rest nor motion, nor 

 any other known agency, seems to prevent the blood from 

 coagulating. This process is therefore regarded as vital. 



The Automatic motion, observed among the blood corpus- 

 cles, is thought to be further proof of the blood's vitality. 

 This motion, however, by others is considered a delusion. 



The last proof we shall here present of the blood's vitality, 

 is its vivifying influence on the whole body, which point 

 illustrates its vital relations. 



There is no part of the body where the blood does not 

 circulate, and in which it is not distributed ; hence every 

 portion must be directly related with it. And so close is 

 this relation and dependency, that if, by ligature, ampu- 

 tation, or any other cause, the blood be prevented from 

 reaching any organ or part, that organ or part will inevi- 

 tably die. But allow the blood to circulate in and through 

 it, and it becomes refreshed, and exhibits again all the 

 sensible proofs of vitality. 



Hence the necessary inference, that vitality must be con- 

 nected with the blood that this vitality is conveyed in the 

 round of the circulation to every portion of the body and 

 further, that all the solids themselves owe the existence 

 and continuance of their own vitality to the supply of this 

 fluid. 



The Formation of the Blood is the last point we propose 

 to notice: 



The Chyle and Lymph are the great sources from whence 

 the materials for the formation of blood are derived. 



The Chyle, formed from our food and drinks by the process 

 of digestion, and found in the upper part of the small intes- 

 tine, is taken from thence by the Lacteals, and, through the 

 thoracic duct, conveyed into the circulation, and thence on 

 to the Lungs, where its formation into blood is finally 

 effected. 



Organs are regarded as the special instruments or means 

 for the formation of blood in the higher order of animals. 



