THE BLOOD. 177 



nution of the whole mass of blood-cells. In some cases scarcely 

 any diminution is observed. Still, the carbonic acid in the red cor- 

 puscles is increased in inflammatory blood, as are also the colorless 

 corpuscles; and the former manifest an increased tendency to sink. 



The diminution of the solid constituents of the blood is usually 

 proportioned to the violence of the inflammation and the quantity 

 of exudation thrown off. If there be but a small amount of the 

 latter, they may, indeed, be rather augmented than diminished. 



Finally, inflammatory blood coagulates slowly, and the clot usually 

 presents the buffy coat (p. 93), and often the "cupped" appearance 

 also. 



2. Fever. Becquerel and Eodier found the blood in fever to be 

 generally somewhat richer in water than in the normal state, and 

 the phosphorized fats and cholesterine to be especially increased ; 

 while the phosphates are also considerably so. The blood-corpuscles 

 are slightly diminished in number. Fibrine, extractive matters, and 

 soluble salts occur in the normal amount. In simple ephemeral and 

 remittent fever, however, the albumen, as well as the cholesterine, was 

 increased. In slight intermittent fever they found the fibrine usually 

 diminished,. while Zimmermann found it usually normal. In marsh 

 fevers the fibrine, albumen, and fats are diminished, and the blood- 

 corpuscles are increased. 



In typhus (also including typhoid) the blood exhibits no changes 

 warranting us in regarding it as a dyscrasia. From the fifth to the 

 eighth day it is very similar to that of plethora. From the ninth day 

 it undergoes a great change, being specifically lighter, chiefly from 

 a diminution of the corpuscles; though the solid constituents of the 

 serum also diminish daily through the disease, with a rapidity pro- 

 portioned to the intestinal affection. The salts and extractive mat- 

 ters are relatively increased, rather than absolutely diminished. 



3. Cholera. In this disease the whole blood is especially dense 

 and viscid. The fibrine is unchanged ; the serum is denser, and 

 poorer in water and salts. Eelatively, however, it is richer in salts, 

 and very rich in albumen. But it contains more potash salts, and 

 phosphates than normal serum, with some urea, and an extractive 

 substance which rapidly converts urea into carbonate of ammonia. 



The blood-corpuscles are augmented from 513 to 559 in 1,000 

 in men, and from 400 to 464 in women. (Schmidt?) This increase 

 is, however, relative, since many blood-cells are actually destroyed. 

 They are also poorer in salts, and their proportional amount of water 

 is diminished (2.14 to 1.77). The proportion of organic to inorganic 

 constituents is, however, increased from 44.1 to 58.1. The specific 

 gravity of the corpuscles is increased in men to 1102.6. 



4. Dysentery. In this disease the corpuscles are fewer and lighter, 

 their specific gravity being but 1085.5. The fibrine is usually in- 

 creased, the solids of the serum decreased, especially the albumen, 

 and the salts considerably increased. 



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