112 PKOPERTIES OF THE BLOOD. 



interconnect nervous, the cartilaginous, the bony ; and hence there arises 

 thro^h^hiT* 8 a g enera ^ balance in the system, each part making its demand 

 circulation. at a certain rate, and each observing a complementary ac- 

 tion to all the rest. Many of those phenomena which, in the infancy of 

 physiology, were regarded as instances of sympathy between different 

 parts, are clearly dependent on these conditions ; for the development of 

 one part, by abstracting special material from the circulating liquid, per- 

 mits the co-ordinate development of another, or perhaps puts a stop to 

 it. The minutest portion of the mechanism is thus indissolubly con- 

 nected with all the rest through the medium of the blood. 



Seen as it circulates in the vessels, the blood consists of a colorless 

 The plasma liquid containing corpuscles. In man, some of these corpuscles 

 and cells. are w hite and others red. , To the liquid in which they float, 

 the designation of the plasma is given ; the colored corpuscles, from their 

 Properties of shape, are called discs or cells. The specific gravity of the 

 the blood. blood varies from 1.050 to 1.059, the variation being, to a con- 

 siderable extent, due to variations in the quantity of the cells. The 

 temperature is about 100 Fahr., the reaction always alkaline ; there is 

 also a faint sickly odor, which differs in different animals. The capacity 

 of blood for heat is in direct proportion to its density. The cells give to 

 the blood its tint of color, and this, in the systemic arteries, is crimson, in 

 the veins, deep blue. However, the color of arterial blood depends con- 

 siderably on the condition of respiration. An imperfect introduction of 

 oxygen, as in hot climates, causes the arterial blood to assume a dark color, 

 and the same is observed when chloroform, ether, or diluted irrespirable 

 gases are breathed. The blood of the male sex is heavier than that of 

 the female. 



Constitution of tKe Blood. 



Water 784.00 



Albumen 70.00 



Fibrin 2.20 



(Globulin 123.50 



DlSCS tEfematin 7.50 



f Cholesterine 0.08 



Cerebrine 0.40 



_, J Seroline 0.02 



I Oleic and margaric acid J 



Volatile and odorous fatty acid > 0.80 



I Fat containing phosphorus 3 



Chloride of sodium 3.60 



Chloride of potassium 0.36 



Tribasic phosphate of soda 0.20 



Salts ^ Carbonate of soda 0.84 



Sulphate of soda 0.28 



Phosphates of lime and magnesia 0.25 



Oxide and phosphate of iron 0.50 



Extract, salivary matter, urea, biliary coloring > - , ~ 



matter, accidental substances ) 



1000.00 



