THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA. 857 



nnclcntcd cells, Avliich we estimated to be from three to fom- times tlic diameter of 

 the ordinary red corpuscle ; these cells, whose walls were so delicate and transhicent 

 that it re<]tiired most careful management of the light for their deiinition, con- 

 tained nuclei, some one, many with two, three, or even more ; delicate as they 

 Avere, however, they became as distinct as the ordinary red corpuscle by the 

 application of a little magenta dye, which did not seem to alter their dimensions 

 in the least by osmotic action. In many of these cells, also, the little macula 

 on the cell wall was observed, but not on all. In blood taken from the jugular 

 vein 24 hours after death we observed these cells, now appearing more tense, in 

 immense numbers, and many of the nuclei floating about free, as well as a great 

 (piantity of transparent acicular crystals, which magenta dye rendered very di- 

 stinct. 



Tlie existence of cells in the blood of the individual who died from the cobra's 

 poison different from those found in cases of i)ya'mia, leucft-ytha'mia, and other 

 diseases, was warndy contested in this society, and you will remembi'r the ani- 

 mated discussions we had on the subject ; but those who have carefully observed 

 the blood in snake-poisoned individuals cannot, I should imagine, be in the least 

 doubt as to the fact of the presence of these cells. ^My friend and I were very 

 sceptical on this point, and at first failed to see them, but afterwards we felt no 

 longer anj'^ question in our minds either as to their presence or to their size bein^ 

 greater than that of any cells in the blood we had ever witnessed or seen de- 

 bciibed. 



Whether this particular cell growth is peculiar to snake-poisoned blood, or 

 whether it may be found in the blood after death from other causes, especiary 

 in cases where the blood remains fluid, is a question not yet deterniine<l, but one 

 thcvt still occupies Professor Ilalford's attention, and one to which he invites the 

 general attention of microscopists as well worthy of a searching inquiry. He 

 tells us that in most careful ol)servations, repeated very many times, he traces 

 the growth of the cell out of the germinal matter before alluded to; that first 

 the nucleus appears, then the cell walL This, if established, is an important 

 j>oint, and one upon which many of our greatest physiologists are not agreed. 

 Kolliker and Virchow holding the view that all cell growth proceeds from pre- 

 existing cells, while Schleiden and Schwann believed they always grew out of 

 structureless granular niattisr ; 13eale, a later authority, working with higher 

 microscopic powers, leans also to this latter view. 



Professor Ilalford considers that snake poison acts as a kind of ferment in the 

 blood, and that the oxygen which is required to keep it in a condition to support 

 vitality is used up by the cell growth, thereby causing the death of the bitten indi- 

 viduaf. After death we find the daik fluid bhjod rapidly aVtsorbs oxygen when 

 exposed to the air, and Itecomes l»right in color ; the iibrine has also disappeared, 

 or at all events has l)LCome so lar degraded Ity some molecular change as to be 

 no longer f^oagulable. 



Although we may regard these investigations as of the highest imjiortance, not 

 only in tlieir direct leference-to the questicm of snake ])oisoning and animal j)oisons 

 generally, as well as U) that cell growth and tin; study of the chemistry and 

 ])hysiology of the blood, yet it uiustbe coiijessi'd that the great (piestion of saving 

 IVoni deatli those liitteu liy snakes is still an inisolved problem ; the light thrown 

 upon the whole subject, however, appears to indicate a path by which the rational 

 treatment of these cast s may be arrived at,, Uut little, after all, is known of the 

 functions of the blood or of its connection with nutiition of the tissues and vital 

 force, or of its intricate, chemical, and physical changes in disease; and it is 

 from inquiries of this kind, jjliilosophicalfy conducted, that we nnist look for 

 progress in this most diflicult, and at present obscure, branch of hunnin knowl- 

 edge. Such intjuiries, however, for their successful pursuit, api)ear to recpiire not 

 only a knowledge of physiology and pathology, but of the highest chemistry 

 and' physics generally, a rare combination to be met with in one individual ; and 



