394 Sir Everard Home’s additions to 
and found inspissation produce the same effect on it, as coa- 
gulation does on the other; that a similar net- work is formed, 
and apparently by the same means, since if pus is deprived 
of its carbonic acid gas (of which it contains a large quan- 
tity) by exhaustion in the air pump, no such net-work takes 
place. 
This is a fact of considerable importance in practical sur- 
gery, for since we now know that inspissated pus can become 
vascular, similar to coagulated blood, we have arrived at the 
principle on which granulations are formed, and from whence 
they derive the power of contraction, which is found to be 
inherent in them ; we also can account for the great advan- 
tage of compression upon the surface of sores ; since by that 
means all the superfluous pus is removed, leaving only 
enough for inspissation, in which state the carbonic acid gas 
is extricated, forming channels so as to admit of its becoming 
afterwards vascular, and then taking on the form of healthy 
granulations. 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
Plate VIII. 
This plate contains six figures : in three of these the glo- 
bules of the human blood are shown under different circum- 
stances. In the three others are represented different views 
of the smallest fibre to which a muscle has been reduced in 
the field of the microscope. 
Fig. 1. Shows 16 globules enveloped in their colouring 
matter, occupying, upon the micrometer, a superficies of 
160,000 part of a square inch. 
