718 
PROFESSOR HARLEY ON THE INFLUENCE OF 
the transformations occurring in blood upon which the exhalation of carbonic acid 
depends, that of alcohol, on the other hand, is to restrain these, as well as to diminish 
the consumption of oxygen : — a similar effect, it will be remembered, to that which 
occurs with chloroform ; the only difference being that the action of alcohol is very much 
less powerful, for a less quantity of chloroform produces a much greater effect. 
Physical effect of Alcohol upon Blood. 
When blood is shaken with 10 per cent, or more of alcohol it becomes of a light brick- 
red hue. The albumen is coagulated and subsides to the bottom of the vessel. No 
amount of shaking with renewed portions of air will properly arterialize blood mixed with 
alcohol, nor have I ever obtained any crystals from blood so treated, not even from that 
of animals poisoned by chloroform. Alcohol does not destroy the blood-corpuscles nor 
set the hsematin free. 
Amylene. 
* Some years ago amylene was proposed as an anaesthetic for the purpose of annulling 
pain in surgical operations, but owing to its disagreeable odour, or some other cause, it 
has never come into general use. Several experiments were made with this substance. 
1st. As regards its physical action upon blood. 
When five per cent, of amylene is added to fresh blood, and the mixture well shaken, 
the blood assumes a dark-red tint, and does not arterialize readily. When 100 per cent, 
of the anaesthetic is employed, the blood becomes quite black, and when spread out in a 
thin layer has a dirty brownish-red appearance. It cannot now be made to arterialize at 
all. If the mixture be allowed to stand for twenty-four hours, the amylene in great part 
separates from the blood, and floats in a clear layer on its surface. The blood, however, 
still retains its black, thin, tarry-like aspect. 
When .examined with the microscope, the red corpuscles are found beautifully distinct ; 
none appear to be destroyed, and no blood-crystals are to be found. Indeed the forma- 
tion of the crystals seems to be in proportion to the destruction of the corpuscles. 
2nd. Chemical action of amylene upon blood. 
Two portions of defibrinated sheep’s blood, after being saturated with oxygen in the 
usual manner, were placed in receivers, the one with nothing, the other with four 
drops of amylene to the 62 grammes of blood. After twenty-four hours’ action the 
gases were analyzed in the usual way ; but on attempting to estimate the oxygen in the 
air enclosed with the amylene, it was found impossible to obtain an explosion, not only 
after the mere addition of hydrogen, but after a large amount of explosive gas had been 
added to the mixture ; and what was more extraordinary still, the electric spark even 
failed to produce any explosion after the sulphuric acid and potash balls had been 
employed. On inverting the eudiometer the gas was found to smell strongly of amy- 
lene, and there can be little doubt but that its presence prevented the explosion taking 
place. The analysis of the gas, as far as it went, was as follows : — 
