IV. Chemical researches on the blood, and some other animal fluids

Abstract

In the following pages I shall have the honour of laying before this Society an account of some experiments upon the blood, which were originally undertaken with a view to ascertain the nature of its colouring matter. The difficulties attendant on the analysis of animal substances have rendered some of the results less decisive than I could have wished, but I trust that the general conclusions to which they lead, will be deemed of sufficient importance to occupy the time of this body. The existence of iron in the blood was first noticed by Menghini, and its peculiar red colour has been more recently attributed to a combination of that metal with phosphoric acid, by M. M. Fourcroy and Vauquelin. The very slight discoloration occasioned by the addition of infusion of galls to a solution of the colouring matter, under Circumstances most favourable to the action of that delicate test of iron, first led me to doubt the inferences of those able chemists, and subsequent experiments upon the combinations to which they allude, tended to confirm my suspicion, and induced me to give up no inconsiderable portion of the time which has elapsed since the last meeting of this Society, to the present investigation.