62 



EFFECTS OF THIRST, ETC., ON A CUR-DOG. 



rated with juices, and incompletely digested. Hence it appears that the Gopher 

 has the power of retaining, m its intestines, vegetable food for months, without 

 either digesting it or allowing it to ferment or putrefy. When this vegetable 

 food is removed from the intestinal canal, it putrefies in the course of one or 

 two days. 



By comparing this analysis with that of the blood of the Gopher in a normal 

 condition, and the blood of the Alligator, Emys terrapin, and Emj/s serrata during 

 starvation, we see that the blood of the Gopher is slowly affected by starvation and 

 thirst. This endurance of abstinence from food and drink is a consequence of the 

 following conditions : — 



1. The large supply of vegetable food in the great intestine, which continually 

 replaces the wastes of the blood, organs, and tissues. 



2. The body is covered, in all parts exposed, with horny excrescences, which 

 prevent the escape of moisture. These are especial provisions of nature, adapting 

 this animal to a barren and dry country. 



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



Warm-blooded Animal. 



36. Blood of a Cur-Dog in a normal condition. 



For a week previous to this analysis, the dog was supplied with more mutton 

 than he could devour. Upon this diet he became very fat and fleshy. On the day 

 previous to the analysis, all food was discontinued. 



Weight of dog, 6^- o'clock P. M., August 7, 231 lbs. 



The blood for analysis was abstracted at 9 o'clock P. M. It coagulated in a few 

 moments after it left the body. 

 The serum was clear. 



Specific gravity of the blood ...... 1045.5 



" serum ...... 1030.5 



Solid constituents in 1000 parts of blood .... 193.48 



" " " serum .... 119.61 



" in serum of 1000 parts of blood . . . 109.64 



Water in 1000 parts of blood ...... 806.52 



" serum ...... 880.83 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Water ......... 806.52 



Blood-corpuscles (dried organic residue) . . . .78.04 



Albumen, fatty and extractive matter . . . . .106.18 



Fibrin . . . . . . . . .3.15 



Fixed saline constituents . . . . . . 6.11 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Moist blood-corpuscles 322.76 -J^^**^^' • .... 242.07 



(Solid constituents . . . 80.69 



Liquor sanguinis 677.24 j^'^^^^' ^^^'^^ 



(Solid constituents . . . 112.79 



