158 THE FLUIDS. 



must shadow forth the future tissue as its matrix, and hence it is 

 almost always present in the plastic exudations. 



The histological relations of the fibrine in the liquor sanguinis 

 are, therefore, it is believed, comprised in the following paragraphs 

 (pp. 91 and 95): 



1. Fibrine is the primum organizatum of the liquor sanguinis, the 

 element first organized in the plasma. It therefore becomes the 

 matrix or nidus in which other and more permanent tissues are de- 

 veloped. This is also the fact, whether the original development 

 of the tissues, or the formation of pathological new growths, or the 

 normal reparative process, be in question. Hence the blood of 

 pregnant women contains an increase of fibrine (to 4.4 parts in 

 1,000) during the last two or three months of pregnancy, while the 

 tissues of the foetus (and its blood, also) are being most rapidly 

 developed (p. 91). 



2. But fibrine has also a not less important relation to the blood itself. 

 The blood, as well as the tissues, has its own vitality to maintain ; 

 and without its power of coagulation, depending on its fibrine, the 

 spontaneous arrest of hemorrhage would be impossible. Nor, 

 indeed, could art long restrain it, were even the smallest vessel 

 divided, without the aid of the clot invariably formed (p. 91). 

 When we use pressure to arrest hemorrhage, or apply a ligature, it 

 does so merely till the clot is formed and sufficiently organized to 

 allow of the removal of the artificial appliances. 



3. Fibrine is, therefore, a peculiar and indispensable element of 

 the blood, merely as such ; and it is surprising that so small a propor- 

 tional amount ( ? J V to 3^3), has the power to secure the temporary 

 solidification of all the blood effused in hemorrhages. Hence it may 

 be said, indeed, that fibrine exists first and especially for the advan- 

 tage of the blood alone ; and secondly, for the benefit of the tissues. 

 Thus, also, it appears that the vitality of the blood inheres in the 

 fibrine; though in part only, as will appear in the sections upon the ' 

 blood-corpuscles. Mr. Simon maintained that fibrine is an excremen- 

 titious matter. Difficult, however, as it may be to account for its 

 increase in the blood in certain pathological states, we are obliged to 

 reject at once the idea that the blood owes its vitality, in part, and 

 its power of self-preservation, to an effete substance floating in it. 



On the other hand, albumen is the great histogenetic element of 

 the blood, since from it all the tissues are directly formed. Thus 

 it is, indeed, directly the pabulum of the tissues. It is also, pro- 



