I. On the condition of the oxygen absorbed into the blood during respiration

The author commences by explaining, that his researches were instituted with the view of ascertaining whether the doctrine maintained by Magnus in regard to the gases interchanged in the lungs during respiration were correct—namely, that the gases in question enter intono chemical combination with the constituents of the blood, either in passing to or from the tissues and organs of the body, but form merely a physical mixture with the circulating liquid. The principal object of the inquiry was to determine the following points:— 1. Has blood the property of chemically combining with the respired oxygen ? 2. Which of the constituents of the blood enter into combination with oxygen ?