16 MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIKG. 



Albumin predominates in all animal fluids, especially 

 in tlie so-called cli} le, in the colorless serum (see below) of 

 the bloodj and in the fluid contents of the Llood-coipus- 

 deSy wheie it is tinted red by the coloring matter of the 

 blood. It also occurs in the juice of the nmscles and in 

 the nerves. 



It is distinguished by the propeity of coagulating when 

 heated above a certain point. For pxu-e albumin this 

 point is 165° F. ; for solutions of albumin it is higher in 

 proportion as they are more dilute. 



(A good example of coagulation is furnished in the boil- 

 ing of an egg. As the heat of the boiling water penetrates 

 the egg the albumin changes fiom a ti-anspaient soluble 

 liquid to an opaque solid which no longer dissolves in 

 water.) 



Fibrin,— The blood of all the higher animals, shortly 

 ^ter it is removed from the body, partially solidifies, and 

 separates into two parts, the "clot" and a yellowish liquid 

 called the serum. The serum contains albumin and the 

 dissolved matters of the blood generally ; the clot contains 

 an albuminoid known as Uood-Jilrin^ colored rod by the 

 blood-corpuscles which it has entans-led within itself while 

 coagulating. 



Authorities differ as to the natm-e of this so-called 

 spontaneous coagulation, and for our present purpose it is 

 not necessary to enter upon the subject. 



When purified, as far as possible, from adhering im- 

 purities, blood-fibrin is a white, fibrous-looking, elastic 

 substance, in which the microscope shows no traces of any 

 stiuctnre, fibrous or otherwise. 



Flesh-jibrifiy the chief constituent of all muscular fibres, 

 differs from blood-fibrin in the fact that it appeai^s in or- 

 ganized stuictures in the form of variously shaped and 



