xxxvi Appendix. 



8. Enlarges until it assumes the form of a distinct cell-wall with contents, 

 and 



9. Absorbs the colouring matter of the blood, while the nucleus becomes 

 obscured, but may be brought out by dilute acetic acid or water. 



To show that these changes are really vital, it is worthy of note that the 

 same blood which had been thoroughly dried, and another portion which had 

 commenced to putrify, were mixed with albumen and subjected to the heat of 

 the body, and in both cases nothing but the ordinary putrefaction changes 

 took place, attended with much foetor, and the growth of multitudes of 

 vibriones, bacteria, etc., etc. 



Being desirous of ascertaining the effect of a fever temperature on the 

 growth and development of the red corpuscles, some hen's blood was subjected 

 to the temperature of 104-5 F. ; most of the time the latter, but never 

 exceeding 105°. For a short time the temperature fell to 102°, owing to the 

 room having got cold. The blood mixed with albumen of hen's egg was 

 placed in small {^ drachm) corked bottles in a warm bath, which was kept 

 warm by means of a lamp. These experiments need not be given in detail it 

 may suffice to say that while a portion of the same blood and albumen subject 

 to the heat of the human body (98-6 F.) went through the regular series of 

 changes, that subjected to the fever heat hardly underwent any change at all 

 for six hours, when the experiments were given up. 



It was curious that this same blood, which had been subjected to the high 

 temperature, after remaining a night and a day in the cold, went through all 

 the ordinary changes enumerated above when put in contact with the human 

 body, showing that though the high temperature retarded metamorphosis it 

 did not kill the blood. Further experiments will be made on this point. 



A specimen of mixed blood and mucus, instead of putrefying, as it usually 

 does in a few hours, and giving out so much gas as to blow out the cork and 

 produce a most offensive smell, remained fresh for the whole night. In every 

 case four or five hours has been sufficient to produce putrefaction. 



It is also worthy of note that these specimens have been kept at the heat 

 of the human body for twenty-four to thirty hours, and then at the ordinary 

 temperature of some hot summer days, without putrefoction. Yet it is well 

 known that animal substances exposed to a heat of less than 90° will putrefy 

 in from twelve to sixteen hours. But as long as these vital changes are 

 taking place putrefaction does not occur. 



There are many interesting pathological questions which may probably be 

 elucidated by this new method of investigation ; for it seems to have occurred 

 to none of the eminent men who have employed themselves in researches 

 on the physiology and pathology of the blood to keep it at or near the tem- 

 perature of the human body in health and disease. Very high temperature, 



