Fig. 16.
A, A small Drop of Blood inclosed in a Glass Tube, and its Parti∣cles by the Help of a Microscope are represented very much magnifyed.
B, The Globular Bladders.
C, The little Fibres variously turned, laid, and disposed, accord∣ing to Bidloo. I must confess I have frequently view'd the Blood in the same Manner as here Exprest with a Microscope, and have con∣stantly observed its Appearance as here represented: Nor could I ever apprehend the Blood was furnished with Fibres (so much talk'd of) but that the Fibrous Appearance it has, (when any Blood-Vessel is open in the Mouth, or in Bleeding into warm Water and the like) is owing to a Coagulation of its Serum, by which Means its Globules are entangled and frame those Fibrous Bodies: The Streaked Mass repre∣sented at D, E. (according to Bidloo) I am apt to think proceeded from a Coagulation of the Serous Part of the Blood, by sealing the Tube Hermetically; in doing which the Glass must be heated. To this our Author adds another Way of Anatomizing the Blood, thus:
The watery whitish Liquor, which is of a different Substance, being separated from the cold coagulated Mass of Blood, and set on the Fire, thickens in a short Time; the red Part which remains, (of which the more fluid Part being frequently washt away with warm Water,) appears like a grumous Heap; every Particle of which resembles a Glo∣bular Bladder; of which, some are Transparent, others not. The rest of the Mass which consists of very flexible Fibres, according to Bidloo, and being exposed to the Air and Cold, become very tough, tensile, and seem like Net-work, owe that Appearance to a Combination of the Globules variously stratified on each other.
The Third Way (which our Author proposes) of enquiring into the Blood, is when the Blood is separated from the Serum or Li∣quor it swims in, and put on a Piece of Paper dawb'd over with Lard, is become a little dry; after an External View of the Particles, gently with the Finger break off a little of the Mass of Blood; in which, you will presently behold little Globes of a differing Frame and Fi∣gure, little Fibres, and Streaks of the same Kind.