BLOOD. 269 



In tlie milky serum to whicliwe have adverted, Trail' found 

 21-1;] of solid constituents, which were composed of fatty oil 4-5, 

 albumen 15*7, soluble matter '9. The water amounted to 

 78-9|]. The specific gravity of the serum was 1-087; it was 

 of a creamy consistence, and became thinner when exposed to 

 a gentle warmth ; when left to itself, even for weeks, it did not 

 deposit any sediment. 



In another instance the specific gravity was 1*025, and the 

 solid constituents amounted to 15*2^, of which a considerable 

 portion was oil. 



The serum has been observed by Cullen, Testa, and Heu- 

 singer to be turbid in lienitis (Nasse). 



y. Peritonitis. 



The blood in peritonitis, and especially in the form denomi- 

 nated puerperal fever, exhibits in a tolerably well marked de- 

 gree the characters of hyperinosis. I made two analyses of the 

 blood of a patient suftering from peritonitis puerperalis, and 

 found that the fibrin amounted to twice as much as in healthy 

 blood. Andral and Gavarret obtained similar results. 



My analyses yielded : 



The blood in these analyses were taken from a woman aged 

 33 years, who, according to Dr. Ebert^s report, exhibited the 

 first symptoms of peritonitis on the evening of the second day 

 after her confinement. 



The belly was somewhat swelled, and tender to the touch. 

 There was extreme heat, violent thirst, and rapid respiration. 

 The pulse was quick, hard, and full, 130 in the minute. The 

 blood formed a tolerably firm clot, and was covered with a huffy- 

 coat of a line and a half thick. There was violent exacerbation 



' Edinb. Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. 17. 



