196 Mr. Gulliver's Observations on the Blood Corpuscles 



exhibit a comprehensive view of the results, particularly as 

 regards the size and figure of the blood particles in the dif- 

 ferent subdivisions of the mammiferous animals. 



It is very desirable that the blood of the larger species of the 

 cetaceous animals should be examined ; for although the cor- 

 puscles of the Mouse (13.) are bigger than those of the Horse 

 (34<.), and there is generally no relation between the size of 

 the animal and that of its blood particles, yet they are larger 

 in the Elephant (51.), as far as we at present know, than in 

 any other mammal. The corpuscles of the Goat were the 

 smallest known to physiologists before my observation of the 

 singularly minute blood disks of the Napu Musk Deer *. 



In some instances the corpuscles are found to be a little 

 larger in the dead than in the living animal, aUhough they may 

 subsequently become smaller,, in consequence of the removal 

 of their colouring matter by the serum. It will be perceived 

 that many observations have been made on the blood after 

 death ; these have led me to ascertain that the particles are 

 subject to modifications in size, and in some degree in shape, 

 as compared with those of the living animal ; and similar va- 

 riations are often observable during life in disease. Besides 

 the instances in which these facts are barely indicated in the 

 preceding communications, it may be mentioned that I have 

 seen the changes in the human blood particles. Thus in a 

 man affected with dropsy, in connexion with granular de- 

 generation of the kidney, some blood was drawn from a vein 

 of the arm, and the corpuscles found to differ remarkably 

 from those of the healthy subject. Though examined before 

 the blood was perfectly cold, as well as after the lapse of a day, 

 their size was singularly irregular, generally smaller than na- 

 tural, having an average diameter of only 1 -4400th of an inch. 

 But as the morbid conditions of the blood corpuscles are pro- 

 bably more extensive and important than has been hitherto 

 supposed, this is a novel and interesting subject for further 

 and special inquiry ; and it is merely alluded to at present as 

 one of the many circumstances under which the size, form, 

 and general appearance of the disks are liable to variations, 

 which will doubtless attract the attention of pathologists 

 now that the necessity of minute researches concerning the 

 morbid as well as healthy fluids has been so fully recog- 

 nised. 



With regard to the blood corpuscles of the foetus as com- 

 pared with those of the mother, 1 apprehend thjit I have de- 



* See Dublin Med. Press, No. 27, 1839, and Annals of Nat. Hist., 

 &c. Dec. 1839. 



