BLOOD. 'J37 



I have drawn up the following table from the numerous 

 analyses of Denis^ the blood being considered healthy. 

 1000 parts of healthy blood of males contained : 



It appears from these tables, especially from the second, 

 that the blood is less abundant in solid constituents, and par- 

 ticularly in blood-corpuscles in early life, than at the period of 

 maturity. From the latter period (or rather sooner) to middle 

 life the proportions of the corpuscles and of the solid constitu- 

 ents continues large ; from that time to an advanced age they 

 are subject to a decrease. [Becquerel and Rodier observe that, 

 after the age of 40 or 50, there is a decided and progressive in- 

 crease of cholesterin in the blood.] 



Denis has made a comparative analysis of the blood of 

 the mother and of the foetus ; he found that the latter was 

 richer in solid constituents and in blood-corpuscles than the 

 former. 



