c 315 ] 
not,-- on the contrary, it is coloured red by thefe 
particles, even when ufed in much greater proportion 
than thirty-fix parts of water to one of blood. 
Thefe red veficles of the blood have not only been 
commonly fuppofed globular and fluid, but they 
have with equal inj oft ice been imagined to be oily 
and more inflammable than the reft of the blood. 
That they are not oily is evident from their fo rea- 
dily diflolying in water ; and that they are not more 
inflammable than the reft of the blood is manifeft by 
burning them after they are feparated them from the 
reft of the blood, which reparation may be effected 
by fhaking the craflamentum in the ferum fo as to 
diffufe the particles through it ; and then, by pouring 
off the clear ferum, when they have fubfided in it. I 
have feparated them in this manner, and compared 
their inflammability with that of infpilfated ferum, 
and of dried coagulable lymph, and have not ob- 
ferved them more inflammable than the ferum or the 
lymph ; nor do they melt like oils, as fome have 
fufpefled, but burn like a piece of horn. 
Some authors, who have written on the figure 
of thefe veficles in quadrupeds, and in the human 
fubjeft, have expatiated on the great advantages of 
their (fuppofed) fpherical fhape, in order for their 
more eafy circulation ; as it is probable that no form 
is preferable to a fpherical one for eafy motion. But 
as thefe veficles are evidently not fpherical but flat 
in all animals, we muft believe that nature has 
fome good purpofe to anfwer by making them of 
that form. 
It has been objefled, that, notwit 1 : (landing they 
appear flat out of the body, they may poflibly be 
V ol. LXIII. T t globular 
