Conversations on anatomy, physiology, and surgery (Volume 2).

  • Robertson, Archibald, 1789-1864.
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Conversations on anatomy, physiology, and surgery (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    16/474
    19 diminished; the latent Caloric therefore is disen- gaged from its combinations, become* sensible, and produces animal heat: and as the extremities of ar- teries are general every where in the system, so is the evolution of free Caloric, and the generation of animal heat. Q. Does the oxygenation of the blood alter its qualities in any other respect ? A. Its taste and smell become more decided. Its coagulability also increases; its specific gravity is lessened; the serum is also less in arterial blood. Q. Does oxygenation take place after death ? A. Yes ; it is on this principle that resuscitation of drowned persons is effected ; the venous or black blood becoming suddenly arterial on blowing air into the lungs; this change also takes place through a bladder, when filled with venous blood, and plunged into oxygen gas; or on exposing the surface of venous blood to the air. Q. How is the colour of the blood accounted for ? A. Some attribute it to iron, but this is doubtful. Its cause is unknown. Q. What is the effect of the respiration of other gases ? A. They are all mortal ; even oxygen, and the components of atmospheric air, in other than the na- tural proportions. Q. Are the different gasses all equally pernicious? A. Azote, hydrogen, &c. destroy life by being non-respirable; others are directly deleterious, as sulphuretted hydrogen, ammoniacal gas, arseniated hydrogen, nitrous gas, oxymuriatic acid gas. The ni- trous oxide is for a short time respirable, produces great intoxication, and if the respiration be continued, death. Q. What is the influence of the eighth pair in re- spiration .' A. Its division destroys the animal sooner or later, at most in three or four days : It produces its effects upon the glottis, which it closes bv the suspension