BLOOD. 207 



observed by Scbultz, and which occurred, in rather a striking 

 degree, in my analysis 5. 



It is of importance to trace the origin and development of 

 these peculiarities, as Ave may thus be led to take clearer views 

 of the functions of the liver and the preparation of the bile. 



Schultz' attributes the source of all these peculiarities to the 

 intestinal canal, to the lymphatic glands, and to the spleen. 



The organization and vitality of the chyle, prepared in the 

 intestinal canal, require (according to Schultz,) the co-operation 

 of the plasma, which (being thus partially consumed) leaves a 

 large proportion of blood- corpuscles, the majority of which ap- 

 pear to have been deprived of their nuclei by absorption, and 

 to have been converted into empty capsules impregnated with 

 colouring matter. To this is attributable the preponderance 

 of the clot. The large quantity of fat is ascribed by Schultz to 

 absorption of the chyle, and he considers that its dark colour 

 is in some way connected with the metamorphosis of the co- 

 louring matter of the blood-corpuscles. 



My own views with respect to the causes of the peculiar 

 constitution of this species of blood differ, in a few immaterial 

 points, from the ingenious explanation of Schultz. 



There are two reasons for the very small quantity of fibrin 

 in this blood. In the first place it may take up a quantity of 

 fluid containing little or no fibrin^ by which means the relative 

 proportion of fi'orin in a given quantity of blood must of course 

 be diminished; and, secondly, it may be explained by the torpid 

 motion in this part of the circulatory apparatus, and the de- 

 ficiency of atmospheric oxygen : this latter reason may also 

 account for some of its other peculiarities. In consequence of 

 the deficiency of oxygen, the metamorphosis of the blood- 

 corpuscles must be imperfect, deficient, and retarded, and the 

 solution of the developed corpuscles will not be duly effected. 

 To this cause we must ascribe not merely the diminished quan- 

 tity of fibrin, but the retarded solution, and the accumulation 

 of the corpuscles, especially of such as are fully developed and 

 abound in hremaphsein, the consequent accumulation of that 

 colouring substance in the plasma, and the necessarily dark 

 tint of the serum, which possesses no means of throwing off 

 that constituent. 



' Op. cit. p. 322. 



