Some considerations with respect to the blood : founded on one or two very simple experiments on that fluid / by Benjamin G. Babington.

  • Babington, B. G. (Benjamin Guy), 1794-1866.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some considerations with respect to the blood : founded on one or two very simple experiments on that fluid / by Benjamin G. Babington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    with albumen, when mixed with water and heated, exactly imitate this appearance of fibrine, and form substances of all degrees of gelatinous con- sistence ; but this only serves to confirm the be- lief that fibrine, in a diluted state, may put on a gelatinous appearance on coagulation. I have stated that closed membranes may pour forth se- rum or Liquor Sanguinis. They may also, under high excitement, pour forth blood itself. There is, therefore, no better reason for calling such membranes serous, than for calling them fibrinous or sanguineous membranes. The secretion of each is morbid, and we ought not to designate parts from the morbid actions which may be set up in them. The examination of fluids effused into closed cavities from diseased action, throws much light upon this subject. The fluid found in the ven- tricles of tlie brain in cases of hydrocephalus, usually contains so little albumen, that it does not coagulate on the application of heat. I have ex- amined some specimens, the specific gravity of which scarcely exceeded that of distilled water. It ge- nerally varies from 1005 to 1010 ; I have found it as low as 1000.5; and only in one instance of acute inflammation of the brain, did it amount to 1019. Now I-have invariably observed, that where the specific gravity is low, and there is consequently but little albumen contained in the fluid, little or