288 



CIRCULATING FLUIDS 



or otlier organs supervene, then the fibrin will increase in a cor- 

 responding degree, and the blood- corpuscles decrease, so that 

 the blood will approximate in its constitution to the normal 

 standard, or even partially assume the characters of hyperinosis. 



«. Typhus abdominalis. 



The blood in this disease exhibits the characters of hypi- 

 nosis perhaps more distinctly than in any other affection : 

 but the statements regarding its qualitative and quantitative 

 composition are still very contradictory, arising, probably, in 

 part, from its varying in different stages of typhus : thus, in 

 the period of excitement, it may incline towards a state of 

 h}"perinosis ; in the stage of depression, the fibrin gradually 

 decreases ; and lastV, in the stage of collapse, the quantity of 

 blood-corpuscles and of solid constituents decreases so remark- 

 ably, that in the case of putrid abdominal typhus the blood (in 

 consequence of the liquor sanguinis being too watery, and de- 

 ficient in salts) assumes the state of spansemia. The same 

 appears to occur in petechial typhus. 



One source of difference is therefore evidently dependent 

 upon the stage of the disease at which the blood is taken : the 

 presence of any inflammatory symptoms will also modify its 

 constitution. 



The blood in typhus is found to be very deficient in fibrin, 

 and frequently also in albumen : it coagulates imperfectly, and 

 often remains in a semi-fluid state : the clot is soft, friable, of 

 a very dark, almost black red colour, and is very rarely covered 

 with a buffy coat : this form of blood becomes putrid sooner 

 than the healthy fluid. 



I have made two analyses of the blood in rather mild forms 

 of the disease. The results do not by any means give a good 

 idea of hypinosis sanguinis. 



Water 



Solid residue 



Fibrin 



Fat . 



Albumen 



Globulin 



Haematin 



Extractive matters and salts 



