LIFE. 2.9 



cable without such a supposition. Its freedom from putrefaction 

 while circulating may be owing to the constant renovation of its 

 particles ; for the thinness of hybernating animals at the end of 

 their torpid season shows it has received accessions even in tnem, 

 and this from the absorption of fat. Its inability to coagulate after 

 death from arsenic, opium, and some other narcotics, and from 

 lightning and electricity (though Sir C. Scudamore found it to 

 coagulate as usual in the latter case), from hard running, anger, or 

 a blow on the stomach, all three of which deprive the muscles of 

 their usual stiffness, may depend upon chemical changes. The 

 admixture of opium with the blood has been said to prevent its 

 coagulation, and this by destroying its life. But Sir C. Scudamore 

 found that the admixture of prussic acid and belladonna, both 

 strong poisons, has no such effect, and that many mere salts, as 

 common salt, weaken or prevent its coagulation, and these are not 

 likely to kill it, but to act chemically. Its accelerated coagulation 

 by means of heat, when frozen by cold, and some other circum- 

 stances, and the reverse, were believed to depend upon an affection 

 of its vitality, but are, perhaps, referable to some chemical effect. 

 Its earlier putridity when drawn from young than from old per- 

 sons may arise from its inferior qualities. Parts die if deprived 

 of a supply of blood ; yet, though necessary as a material and 

 agent to maintain the life of parts, it is not, therefore, necessarily 

 itself alive. But the circumstance of its freezing more readily, 

 like eggs, frogs, snails, &c., when once previously frozen (which 

 change may be supposed to have exhausted its powers ! ), is, if 

 really the case, an argument in favour of its life, as these are 

 certainly endowed with life. The organisation of extravasated 

 blood m , and the inosculation of new vessels with those of surround- 

 ing parts, shows n that the solidified lymph is now endowed with 



thereof," is said to be rendered by the best interpreters, " flesh or members torn 

 from living animals having the blood in them." See Bruce, Travels to discover 

 the Source of the Nile, vol. iii. p. 297. 



I Corrie, on the Vitality of the Blood, p. 45. 



m J. Hunter, Treatise on the Blood, $c. p. i. ch. 1. 



II Dr. John Thomson believes, that, when blood has been effused between divided 

 surfaces, its coagulum is absorbed, and secreted lymph only coagulates and be- 

 comes vascular. Lectures on Inflammation, p. 214. Yet at page 216. he does 

 not deny the occurrence. 



