86 
THE CAUSE OF ORGANIZATION'. 
perfection is exhibited by the greater number 
of different parts and matters entering into 
their composition, as also by the more inti- 
mate connexion and more exact I’eciprocity of 
action existing between all these parts and 
matters, so that we cannot but i-ecosnise a 
train of coincidences tending to one end or to 
unity of end. 
XL VIE If, lastly, we put the question, on 
what rests the property which organized 
bodies have of exhibiting this disposition, the 
combination and reciprocity of action, in the 
parts which compose them, we have no other 
answer to make, except that it ought to be 
sought for in their material substance itself, in 
organic matter All organisms proceed, as far 
as we can judge of them by observation, from 
organic matters, which are presented to us as 
susceptible of organization. At one time they 
are formed at the expense of an organized 
individual in which putrefaction is established, 
as is seen in the case of spontaneous genera- 
tion, wherein the organisms develope vary 
according to the external influences to 
which the organic matters are submitted. 
At other times, organisms, or organic tissues 
are formed in a determinate manner, and with 
an equally determinate form, in the midst of 
liquid organic matters, produced by the mani- 
festations of activity of organisms already 
existing, as is observed in generation properly 
so called, and in the acts of development, of 
formation, and nutrition. Each species of 
animal and vegetable presents an organization 
peculiar to itself, and possesses the faculty of 
preserving itself, notwithstanding the perish- 
able character and the continual renewal of the 
individuals. Should we seek to discover 
whence proceeds this quality of animal and 
vegetable species, we are lost in the regions 
of obscurity. Neither do we know more 
touching the origin of the first individuals of 
any animal or vegetable species, than con- 
cerning that of the organic matters on the sur- 
face of our planet. Provisionally we shall de- 
signate the faculty or povrer which organic 
matters have of taking on organic form and 
aggregation, in certain circumstances, by the 
name of plastic power, or power of organiza- 
tion, and regard it as a quality peculiar to 
these matters, so that we shall consider 
aggregation by means of purely mechanical or 
chemical attraction as an especial property of 
inorganic matter. 
THE ACTION OF SALINE SOLUTIONS 
ON FIBRIN. 
By Harry Rainy, M. D., 
Lecturer on the Theory of Physic in the Univer- 
sity of Glasgow. 
To the Editor of the Records of General Science, 
.Sir, — ^You will oblige me by giving the fol- 
lowing remarks a place in your Records of 
General Science. They were partly suggest- 
ed by Professor Muller’s valuable paper on 
the blood, which appeared in one of your fate? 
numbers. 
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
Harry Rainy. 
Glasgow, \4th Oct., 1835. 
Though it has been generally admitted that 
fibrin agrees in its chemical properties with 
coagulated albumen, it lias been stated expli- 
citly by Tiedeman and Gmelin, and more 
recently by Muller, that fibrin is distinguish- 
ed by the property of dissolving readily in a 
solution of muriate of ammonia. Such autho- 
rities would seem to leave no doubt with 
regard to the fact ; yet, on repeating the ex- 
periment frequently some months ago, I did 
not observe any solution ; and I have since 
noticed that Berzelius had been equally un- 
.successful. From these discrepancies it was 
obvious tliat there must be some peculiarity 
either in the state of the fibrin itself, or in the 
manner of conducting the process, that mate- 
rially influences the result. 
My attention has recently been recalled 
to this subject by accidentally observing that 
.some fibrin prepared from human blood, dis- 
solved almost entirely in a solution oK common 
salt, into which it had been put for the pur- 
pose of preserving it in a moist state. 1 was 
led, by this circumstance, to perform the fol- 
lowing experiments ; — 
1. A portion of moist fibrin, recently prepa- 
red from human blood, and very carefully 
washed, was put into a diluted solution of 
common salt, at the ordinary temperature. 
It gradually swelled, assumed a gelatinous 
appearance, and in the course of twenty-four 
hours, dissolved in the liquid, with the ex- 
ception of a weak portion of a mucous-like 
substance, which formed a thin stratum at the 
bottom of the phial, and which did not dissolve 
by adding fresh solution. 
2. The solution of fibrin (1.) was clear, and 
frothed readily on agitation . When heated^ 
it became opaque, and deposited copious white 
coagula. This took place at 130“ Fahren- 
heit; consequently, rather at a lower tempe- 
rature than that at which ordinary albumen 
coagulates. The precipitate did not re-dis- 
solve on cooling, and seemed, in every res- 
pect, to agree in its properties with coagulated 
albumen. 
3. It was natural to suspect, from the last 
experiment, that the fibrin would not dissolve 
in any solution of salt heated to 130® or up- 
wards. fl’his conjecture was fully confirmed 
on trial. Fibrin put into solution of salt at 
any temperature above 130®, did not dissolve, 
and could not afterwards be dissolved, even 
at the ordinary temperature. 
It is, therefore, evident that exposure to 
heat produces some change on fibrin, which 
prevents its dissolving in solution of salt, exact- 
ly as heat renders ordinary albumen insoluble 
in water. This accounts for the failure of my 
first trials with muriate of ammonia, for I had 
heated the solution with the view of accelerat- 
ing the process ; and Berzelius appears to 
have operated in the same manner. 
4. The portion of fibrin which dissolves 
bears a striking analogy to soluble albumen. 
