40 EFFECTS OF THIRST AND STARVATION UPON ALLIGATORS. 



CHAPTER nr. 



PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES OF THE SOLIDS AND FLUIDS 

 OF COLD AND WARM-BLOODED ANIMALS, WHEN DEPRIVED OP 

 FOOD AND DRINK. 



Series I. — Effects of Starvation and Thirst upon the Fluids and Solids of 

 Alligators [AUigato}- Mississippiensib) . 



21. Blood of a small female AlUgalor, in its normal condition. 



Although this reptile had been shot for half an hour, the blood flowed from its 

 arteries in rapid streamS; and twelve tluidounces were collected without any special 

 care. 



This alligator had been well fed, and was in good condition ; the abdominal 

 cavity, especially in the region of the kidneys, was lined with fat. 



Specific gravity of defibrinated blood 

 Solid constituents in 1000 parts of blood 

 " " " serum 



" in serum of 1000 parts of blood 



Water in 1000 parts of blood 

 " " serum 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Water ..... 

 Blood-corpuscles (dried organic constituents) 

 Albumen 



Fibrin .... 

 Water extract and alcohol extract 

 Fatty constituents 

 Fixed saline constituents 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Moist blood-corpuscles 364.08 1^^'^^^^' • . 



(Solid constituents 



Liquor sanguinis 



635.92 If ■ • . • 

 (.Solid constituents 



1046. 

 176.14 

 90.80 

 82.05 

 823.86 

 909.20 



823.86 

 86.39 

 63.75 

 3.07 

 9.26 

 5.02 

 8.65 



273.06 

 91.02 



550.80 

 85.12 



22. Blood of a sinall male Alligator. April 4. 



The subject of these investigations was kept for two weeks and a half, without 

 food or drink. It lived in the same stream with the one used in the preceding- 

 analysis, and was in all probability its mate. 



This reptile was captured in a novel manner. The ear of the Alligator is pro- 

 vided with a lid which completely covers the meatus auditorius externus. When 

 this lid is closed, it is impossible to discover the position of the ear without close 



