222 MODES OF DEA TH 



vessels and of the tissues, as well as by the contagious 

 bioplasm when this exists in the system. The in- 

 crease of the bioplasm in the blood (white blood- 

 corpuscles and minute particles of bioplasm) has been 

 already described in Page 123, plates XII, XIII, et seq. 



The above changes are invariably associated with 

 increased development of animal heat, which in its 

 turn further favours the growth of the bioplasm. 



This interesting subject will be further discussed 

 in a work " On Inflammation and Fever," which will 

 be published shortly. 



TJie manner in which Disease Germs may occasion 

 Death. The observations already made in this work 

 will have prepared the reader for the inference 

 that disease germs, consisting of living germinal 

 matter, or bioplasm, may be instrumental in causing 

 death in different ways, and in different periods 

 of time, but that in all cases the fatal result is 

 brought about by changes in the composition of the 

 blood, and by serious disturbances in the circulation 

 thereby resulting. The manner in which death begins 

 at the head, at the heart, and at the lungs has been 

 well described ; but death may really be said to begin 

 more frequently at the capillary vessels than at any 

 higher texture. 



Complete interruption, or sudden cessation of the 

 circulation, from any cause whatever, may produce 

 almost instant death. Fainting, as is well known, re- 

 sults from a more or less sudden reduction of the 



