312 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



CuUen (1903) writes : " As to the nature and origin of these spindles [inclusions 

 in the cytoplasm of the leucocytes] very little is known that is definite. They 

 are certainly not artifacts, for they can be seen in fresh blood as well as in dried 

 specimens. Dr Simon is of the opinion that they may be derived from the 

 second variety [the coarsely eosinophile leucocytes, mentioned next], in which 

 granules take the place of the spindles ; that they are crystalloids and analogous to 

 similar formations that have been encountered in certain tissues in man, and notably 

 in the epithelial cells of the seminal tubules. He thinks that they result from the 

 granules through loss of water, and as a matter of fact it is possible to reconvert 

 the crystalloids into granules in the wet preparation by adding a droplet of a dilute 

 solution of eosin from the side of the cover-glass. Dr Simon has also noted that 

 in certain preparations in which the eosinophilic material is present in one dense, 

 apparently undifterentiated mass, the crystalloids sepai-ate out upon the application 

 of heat." 



In a few cases, the centre of the spindle bodies is occupied by a tiny circle or 

 dot, which does not stain as deeply as the rest of the spindle, and is refringent 

 (Fig. 12). The presence of this central dot is noticeable in the case of large spindles. 



As regards the staining properties of the spindle bodies (crystalloids), I agree 

 with Burnett that they are not intensely eosinophilic, but that " in affinity for 

 stains the [spindle] granules resemble the polymorphs rather than the eosinophiles." 

 Cullen, on the other hand, considers that the crystalloids are more oxyphilic than 

 the true eosinophile leucocytes. Perhaps the differences of opinion of the various 

 investigators are explicable by reference to slight variation in the stains used. 



The distribution of the cytoplasmic inclusions within the cell is dependent on 

 the shape and position of the nucleus. 



4. Eosinophile leucocytes (Burnett) or coarsely ijraimiar eosinophile {oxyphile) 

 Cells. — These cells are also present in the blood of normal (4rouse (Figs. 13-15), but 

 Eosinophile ^''^ morc uumerous in the blood of birds suffering from helminthiasis, 

 leucocytes, rpj^g eosinophile cells are from 8;x to 10^ in diameter, and have a general 

 resemblance to the polymorphonuclear leucocytes, only differing in tlie form 

 of the inclusions or granules. 



The shape of the eosinophile leucocyte is round (Figs. 14, 15) or somewhat 

 quadrilateral (Fig. 13). The general cytoplasm is pale staining and slightly 

 reticulate in structure. The nucleus usually resembles that of the polymorphonu- 

 clear leucocyte, and is mostly bilobed — the lobes being coarsely reticular and 

 usually staining fairly deeply. The cell-body contains numbers of coarse, oxyphile 



