PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL AGENTS UPON BLOOD. 
703 
As these results are probably different from what most persons may have expected, it 
may be advisable briefly to relate the controlling experiments, at least so much of them 
as refer to the exhalation of carbonic acid. They were performed in a precisely similar 
manner, except that the proportion of blood to that of air was as one to three. 
1st. Healthy dog. 1 volume of pure blood to 3 volumes of air. Twenty-four hours’ 
action at temperature under 12° C. Result : — 
No. 30. — In 100 parts of air. 
Carbonic acid . . . . O' 38 
2nd. Blood of dog poisoned by puff adder. 1 volume of blood to 3 volumes of air. 
Twenty-four hours’ action at temperature under 12° C. Result : — 
No. 31. — In 100 parts of air. 
Carbonic acid . . . . 0-78 
Here too it is seen that, although treated in every respect alike, the blood of the 
poisoned dog exhaled more carbonic acid than that of the healthy animal. 
Uric Acid. 
As uric acid, although a normal constituent of the animal body, may be regarded in 
the light of an animal poison, inasmuch as it is an effete product, it was experimented 
with in the following manner. 
Two portions of well defibrinated sheep-blood, after being thoroughly arterialized, 
were placed in receivers with 100 per cent, of atmospheric air. To one of them was 
added 0-2 gramme (3T grains) of pure uric acid prepared from human urine (the uric 
acid was thoroughly pounded in distilled water and then mixed with the blood in 
a mortar ; 62 grammes of blood was the quantity employed). The pure blood was 
treated in the same way, but with distilled water alone. After twenty-four hours’ 
action under identical circumstances, the air of the receivers was analyzed. 
Air after being in contact with pure blood of sheep during twenty-four hours. Re- 
sult : — 
No. 32. — In 100 parts of air. 
Oxygen . . . aS-901 Total i 5 . 85 
Carbonic acid . 1*95 J 
Nitrogen . . . 84 T5 
Air after being in contact with sheep’s blood to which uric acid was added. Result : — 
No. 33. — In 100 parts of air. 
Oxygen . . . 13-171 Total oxygen 15 - 79 
Carbonic acid . 2*62 J 
Nitrogen . . . 84-21 
5 E 
MDCCCLXV. 
