280 



CIRCULATING FLUIDS 



in mucli the same ratio with the other solid constituents, and 

 sometimes falls even under the healthy standard. Generally 

 speaking, it seems that the amount of fibrin attains its maxi- 

 mum about the period when the febrile symptoms are regularly 

 established. 



I have made three analyses of the blood of phthisical per- 

 sons, the results of which are not devoid of interest. 



The blood in analysis 26 was taken from a man aged 36 

 years, in the second stage of tubercular phthisis, who afterwards 

 sunk under the disease. The blood in analysis 27 was taken 

 from a man aged 4], in the third stage of the disease, who suf- 

 fered extremely from nocturnal colliquative sweats, and from 

 feverish symptoms. In these two instances the blood exhibits 

 the characters of hyperinosis, for the quantity of fibrin is in one 

 instance twice, and in the other thrice the normal amount, and 

 the amount of haematoglobulin is below the healthy standard : 

 moreover, the quantity of solid constituents is less than in 

 healthy blood. Andral and Gavarret^s observations respecting 

 the changes that the blood undergoes as the disease advances 

 are here borne out. 



The 28th analysis gives results quite at variance with the two 

 former. The blood in this instance was taken from a man 

 about 30 years of age, who was treated in our hospital for tu- 

 bercular phthisis. He had taken cod-hver oil for some time 

 with much benefit ; subsequently, however, frequent attacks of 

 haemoptysis came on, for which venesection was always imme- 

 diately prescribed. The clot in these cases was seldom very 

 firm. I analysed the blood taken at his last venesection. It 

 was received into a shallow vessel, and amounted to between 

 six and seven ounces. It did not coagulate, and it presented 

 the appearance of a homogeneous dark red fluid, in Avhich some 

 white gelatinous flocks of coagulated fibrin were swimming. 



