The author, in the course of an inquiry into the properties of the blood, was led to notice some peculiarities in the contents of the vena portæ, and to investigate this subject more minutely. The results of the experiments which he made for this purpose are chiefly the following. The blood contained in the vena portæ is darker than that of the other veins, inclining more to a ruddy hue than to the Modena red. Being less homogeneous, it has the appearance of being less perfectly elaborated. Its specific gravity was found to be very variable, but it is in general less than ordinary venous blood. It coagulates much more quickly, and contains a larger proportion of serum, but a much smaller proportion of albumen, than blood taken from other veins. The serum obtained from it is redder than common serum, in consequence of its retaining much of the colouring matter of the blood: it has also a greater specific gravity, and yields, on exsiccation, a greater weight of solid matter. On the application of heat, it concretes more quickly, but much less completely, than blood from the jugular vein; which peculiarities are attributed by the author to the different state and imperfect formation of the albumen contained in it. The crassamentum of the blood from the vena portae does not expel its serum so fully as blood from other vessels; but it remains a soft mass, unless artificial means be employed, and it yields a considerably smaller quantity of fibrin. The Ballot for William Snow Harris, Esq., which should have been taken at this Meeting, was postponed to the next Meeting, in consequence of there not being twenty-one Members present. The Society then adjourned over Whitsuntide to the 2nd of June.
