174 ° REPoRT—1868. 
blood is rendered dark in colour, and the venous blood is made darker than 
is natural. 
When these fluids are added to blood freshly drawn, these same changes 
are also observed, together with a difference in the period of coagulation, the 
process of coagulation being quickened by the chlorides, and slightly retarded 
by the oxides. In the blood of some animals, such as the sheep and the 
common fowl, the period of natural coagulation is so rapid that the difference 
is not easily computed; but the blood of the ox, which at the temperature of 
60° F. (15°°5 C.) coagulates normally in three minutes, shows the fact clearly, 
ten per cent. of chloroform quickening the coagulation a full minnte and a 
half, while the same proportion of ether delays it an interval of two minutes 
beyond the normal period. 
When the different agents are added to defibrinated fresh blood in the 
proportion of five per cent., the most striking differences are obseryed in 
respect to colour, fluidity, change in the corpuscles, and development of 
blood-crystals. In investigating these changes, I subjected equal quantities of 
freshly defibrinated sheep’s blood to representatives of the methyl and ethyl 
series, and set them aside for observation during a period of thirty-five days. 
They were examined carefully on the first and thirty-fifth day, as well as on 
intervening days, by my friend Dr. Sedgwick, who was so good as to relieve 
me greatly of this labour, and who has condensed the record of the changes 
as they were observed to occur stage by stage in the course of the inquiry. 
Bichloride of Methylene.—On addition of the bichloride of methylene to 
blood, the colour was rendered bright and full red ; and this colour was main- 
tained until the thirty-fifth day. The blood remained fluid throughout. The 
red corpuscles commenced to dissolve on the first day, and by the thirty-fifth 
day scarcely a corpuscle was left. Blood-crystals were at no time developed ; 
but plates and masses undefined in shape were observed to form on the last 
days of observation. 
Chloroform.—On the addition of the chloroform the colour of the blood 
became of a dark red; but it grew lighter in course of time, and remained 
light. The blood became of thicker consistency, and at last gelatinous. The 
corpuscles commenced to undergo solution at once, and on the thirty-fifth day 
had all disappeared. No blood-crystals were found. 
Tetrachloride of Carbon.—The changes were identical in blood charged with 
the tetrachloride with those in blood charged with chloroform. 
Methylic Alcohol.—The blood retained its natural colour throughout. The 
fluidity remained unchanged. ~The corpuscles remained the same. On the 
thirty-fifth day a few octahedral crystals were present. 
Acetate of Methyl.—The blood was rendered at once dark. On the first 
day the blood was thickened ; but it became thin afterwards, and remained so. 
The corpuscles were unchanged. No crystals. 
Bromide of Methyl.—Blood became at once dark, and changed to dark- 
brown, which colour it retained. On the first day the corpuscles remained 
unchanged, but soon began to dissolve, and on the thirty-fifth day all were 
dissolved. No crystals. 
Methylal—Blood at once became dark, and changed to dark-brown. The 
blood maintained its fluidity at first; but it began to grow thick, and at last 
was semisolid. The corpuscles were at no time dissolved, but from the first 
were irregular in outline and serrated. No crystals. 
Ethylic Ether.—Blood at once became dark, and remained so. Fluidity 
was maintained, The blood-corpuscles were perfect throughout. No crystals. 
In all the specimens the blood remained free from any putrefactive change. 
