BLOOD. 239 



not absolutely, poorer, for its quantity at the same time in- 

 creases. Subsequently, however, Avhen the generative powers 

 begin to be developed, the corpuscles and the iron increase, and 

 the relative proportion of Avater diminishes. At the period of 

 fiill development the excess of corpuscles and iron serve in 

 maintaining the necessary energy of that part of the system, 

 and till the generative powers begin to flag the blood remains 

 abundant in solid constituents, and more especially in corpuscles. 



These observations are suggested by the results obtained by 

 Denis,! as will be clearly seen by the following table, which 

 was drawn up by that chemist himself. 



The mean amount of solid constituents and of blood-corpus- 

 cles at different ages are given in the following proportions. 



Solid constituents. Blood-corpuscles. 

 In 5 individuals between 5 months and 10 yrs. 

 13 „ 10 years and 20yrs. 



11 „ 20 30 



12 „ 30 40 

 6 „ 40 50 

 8 „ 50 60 

 2 „ 60 70 



The following table shows that Lecanu^s analyses confirm 

 those of Denis and myself. 



ON DISEASED BLOOD. 



The pathological chemistry of the blood. 



The question whether there exists such a thing as diseased 

 blood is easily answered. The material deviations from its 

 normal condition exhibited by the blood in its physico-chemical 

 relations, in certain morbid conditions of the system, have long 

 been recognized by pathologists. 



' Recherches, pp. 289, 290. 



