232 



Prof. T. H. Huxley. On 



[Mar. 31,' 



produces any effect, serum containing plenty of paraglobnlin and 

 ferment but only traces of the new substance. 



But the injection of a solution of this body prevents the coagulation 

 of the shed blood. Occasionally as the result of the injection very 

 small thrombi are formed ; possibly if more could be obtained con- 

 siderable intravascular clotting might be set up. 



The following is an example. 



A quantity of the new substance obtained from 300 c.c. sheep's 

 serum and well washed was dissolved in dilute alkali and salt 

 solution. (The amount of substance was I estimate 0*2 gram.) This 

 solution was injected into the jugular vein of a rabbit. The blood of 

 this rabbit previous to the injection clotted in two minutes ; after the 

 injection the blood drawn oh remained quite fluid for three hours- 

 time of observation. It clotted, however, directly on adding some of 

 the solution injected. 



The injection of considerable quantities of serum or of paraglobulin 

 I have not found to have any appreciable effect. 



Of itself this substance, since it exists in so small amount, is of; 

 little interest, but as it appears to vary in quantity in different 

 animals and under different circumstances, it is easy to see that, 

 misapprehensions as to the influence of paraglobulin on coagulation 

 might easily arise. t 



These observations also throw great doubt on the power of fibrin 

 ferment to produce a so-called intoxication. 



This substance has an extremely feeble influence on dilute MgS0 4 

 plasma, and hence contains but a trace of fibrin ferment. Since 

 it is closely related to the fibrin-yielding matters of the plasma, and 

 to the tissue fibrinogens I have elsewhere described, I should 

 propose to call it serum fibrinogen. 



V. "Preliminary Note on the Fossil Remains of a Ohelonian 

 Reptile, Ceratochelys sthenurus, from Lord Howe's Island, 

 Australia." By Thomas H. Huxley, F.R.S. Received March 

 24, 1887. 



The interesting remains of which I propose to give a brief notice 

 in the present communication, are contained in a friable sandstone 

 (apparently formed of concreted blown sand), and they have a very 

 recent appearance. The age of the deposit in which they are found 

 is unknown, but it is probably quaternary. The specimens have been 

 for some years in the palseontological collection of the British 

 Museum ; and, for the most part, they have not yet been submitted to' 

 careful examination. }3ut I learn that the greater number of them 



