442 LESLIE B. AREY 



The effect of water, first noted by Muys (1751), was studied 

 by Malassez ('90) who showed that shapes intermediate between 

 the disc and sphere are obtainable in examining media of dif- 

 ferent concentrations and that hypertonic solutions induce crena- 

 tion. Crenation does not necessitate permanent injury, for a 

 return to weaker solutions allows recovery (Heinz '90; Weiden- 

 reich '02). 



Previous to the year 1902 observations on the shape of the 

 red blood corpuscle for the most part had been of a casual na- 

 ture. That the cup might be the true normal form was not 

 considered seriously. Standard texts and atlases continued to 

 describe the classical disc, although in a few cases (e.g., the 

 atlas of Brass, '97) cups w^ere also figured. 



The renewal of interest in the cup form resulted from a series 

 of detailed investigations by Franz Weidenreich who vigorously 

 assailed the common teaching and contended for the normality 

 of the cup, supporting his contention by exhaustive experimen- 

 tation and by ingenious argument. As might be expected these 

 conclusions did not pass unchallenged; heated controversies 

 followed in which arguments and counterarguments, rebuttals 

 and rejoiners held sway; technical methods were attacked; 

 interpretations of results were impugned. A few converts^ to 

 the new school were made, but the majority of workers were 

 unconvinced and the anatomical world at large, to say the least, 

 has remained highly skeptical. 



In order to bring out the various disputed points it will be 

 necessary to present in some detail the main features of the con- 

 tributions of this period. 



Incited by observations of Schwalbe on the porcupine and on 

 man, Weidenreich began an investigation, the first report of 

 which comprised his notable contribution of 1902. When a 

 moist chamber was used in examining fresh human blood (on a 

 warm-stage at 37.5°C.) he observed first a rapid streaming; as 

 the movements decreased rouleaux formed, but isolated cor- 

 puscles appeared as 'bells' (p. 464) : ''.... ist die wahre 



^ Weidenrich ('10) listed the following as having accepted the normality of the 

 cup: Fuchs, Lewis, Radasch, Bonnet, Minot, Schleip, Schridde, and Stohr. 



