FIBRINE IN THE HUMAN BODY. 183 



If instead of allowing 2.5 parts of fibrine, we take 2.3 as being 

 nearer the mean in a normal condition, it will be found that 2475 

 grammes of fibrine disappear in the course of one day in the blood 

 traversing the digestive organs and the liver ; and 2152 grammes 

 if we assume that there are but 2 parts in a thousand of fibrine in 

 the blood. If we make a calculation in reference to the blood sup- 

 plied to the kidneys, similar to that just made with respect to the 

 blood going to the liver, it will be found that the left kidney receives 

 457 kilogrammes and the right 481 kilogrammes, whence it follows 

 that the two kidneys receive daily 938 kilogrammes of blood. 



Assuming that arterial blood contains 2.5 parts in a thousand of 

 fibrine, there will be a transformation of 2345 grammes of fibrine in 

 the kidneys in one day. If only 2.3 parts of fibrine, the amount 

 would be 2107 grammes ; if only 2.2 parts there would be trans- 

 formed 1876 grammes. 



Now, on adding together the amount of fibrine transformed in the 

 liver (and in part also, perhaps, in the other organs of the digestive 

 apparatus), and in the kidneys, we obtain the following results : — 



2690 + 2345 = 5035 grms. of fibrine, assuming 2.5 parts in 1000 

 2475 + 2107 = 4582 " « " 2.3 ", 



2152 + 1876 = 4028 " " « 2.0 " 



Whence it follows that an amount of fibrine, varying between four 

 and five kilogrammes at least, undergoes transformation in the course 

 of the circulation of the blood through the digestive and venous 

 viscera every twenty-four hours. 



It has been objected by some to whom I have made known these 

 conclusions, that perhaps the fibrine of the blood, instead of suflTer- 

 ing transformation, passed in company with the lymph through the 

 liver and kidneys. However puerile this objection may appear, yet 

 since it has been seriously advanced by serious aiid learned men, I 

 feel bound to reply. According to the researches of Bidder and 

 Schmidt, 10 kilogrammes of lymph flow into the subclavian vein in 

 the course of one day. 



Of these 10 kilogrammes, certainly not more than 3 are derived 

 from the liver and the kidneys, however numerous may be the 

 lymphatics of these viscera. In order to give the largest possible 

 support to the objection, let us admit that 5 kilogrammes of lymph 

 are derived from those organs where we suppose the transformation 



