EFFECTS OF THIRST, ETC., ON EMYS S ERR AT A. 



83 



Weight, September n, after removal from the tub . . 21.125 grains. 



Gain in weight during eighty-eight days subsistence upon vegetable 



food ........ 11.328 " 



The serum was of a light-yellow color, and the clot was large. 

 The tissues of this terrapin did not present the dropsical appearance of those of 

 the former terrapin. 



The bladder was distended with light-yellow limpid urine, having a specific 

 gravity only a few degrees above that of water. 



The pleura and cellular tissue, along the side of the back, contained two fluid- 

 ounces of a clear albuminous fluid, which coagulated when allowed to stand, and a 

 well-defined soft clot was formed. 



The intestines were much enlarged and distended, resembling those of Chelo- 

 nians which live exclusively upon vegetable substances. The intestines of carni- 

 vorous terrapins in their normal condition are always contracted. This change 

 was observed in the intestines of all those carnivorous terrapins which had been 

 kept for a length of time upon vegetable food, and was, without doubt, due to the 

 character of the food. 



The stomach was filled with the buds and leaves of the Purslain, which gave 

 an acid reaction. 



The contents of the small intestines were neutral to test-paper. 



The colon and rectum were filled with undigested vegetable matter, acid in its 

 reaction. 



The pancreas was diseased in this and many other carnivorous terrapins which 

 had been fed entirely upon vegetable food. The diseased portion consisted of black 

 and brown hard masses which could be squeezed out of the substance of the 

 pancreas. 



When subjected to the microscope, these masses were found to consist of nume- 

 rous large yellow cells, with divisions and nuclei, resembling certain cancer cells ; 

 also oil-globules, and octohedral and columnar crystals. When the diseased portion 

 was pressed upon the glass the crystals produced a grating noise. The cancer- 

 like cells were found only in the diseased portion, whilst the crystals were found in 

 other parts of the pancreas. We have never noticed this disease of the pancreas 

 in terrapins in a normal condition, and the only cause which can be assigned for 

 this degeneration of structure is the character of the food. 



Solid constituents in 1000 parts of blood .... 115.84 



serum .... 50.00 



in serum of 1000 parts of blood . . . 46.53 



Water in 1000 parts of blood ...... 884.16 



" " serum ...... 950.00 



1000 parts of blood contained — 



Water . . . . . . . . , 884.16 



Blood-corpuscles (dried organic constituents) .... 66.88 



Solid constituents of serum . . . , . . 46.53 



Fibrin ......... 2.43 



