INFLUENCE OF ALKALIES ON SPERMATIC FILAMENTS. 293 



in lymphatics, which have no connexion of any kind with 

 glandular organs. Should it thus appear, of which I can 

 scarcely doubt, that the occurrence of these corpuscles, ob- 

 served by me in the lymphatics of the testis, is a frequent 

 event, the origin of these lymph-cells will have to be traced 

 furtlier, and above all, it will be requisite to consider whether, 

 perhaps, the epithelial cells of the smaller lyrrphatics may 

 not participate in this cell-formation more than we have 

 hitherto been inclined to believe. 



On the Influence of Caustic Alkalies upon the Motions of 

 the Spermatic Filaments. By A. Kolliker. (Siebold 

 and Kollik. Zeitsch. f. w. Zool., vol. vii., p. 181, March 26, 



1855.) 



Setting out with the well-known observation of Virchow 

 (Virch. Archiv., vol. vi., p. 133, 1853 ; Quart. Journ. Mic. 

 Sci., vol. ii., p. 108), with respect to the action of caustic 

 potass and soda on the cilia, I have in the last winter inves- 

 tigated their action upon the spermatic filaments. To my 

 agreeable surprise a perfect correspondence was exhibited 

 between these two motile bodies, except that I noticed an 

 influence from ammonia upon the spermatic filaments, which 

 had not been observed by Virchow in the cilia. In order to 

 observe the action of caustic alkalies upon the spermatic 

 filaments, the best mode of proceeding is to allow them to 

 become perfectly quiescent in a dilute solution of sugar or of 

 albumen, and afterwards to introduce the caustic in small 

 quantity beneath the covering glass. It will then be seen 

 wherever the potass or soda reaches that the mass is again 

 put into the most lively motion, fully as active as that of 

 the perfectly-fresh spermatozoids ; but after a short time 

 (^ — 1 — 2 minutes) a total quiescence takes place, from which 

 the spermatic filaments cannot in any way be again roused. 

 This phenomenon is best witnessed on the application of a 

 solution containing from 1 to 5 parts in 100 of caustic soda 

 or potass. In stronger solutions it undoubtedly takes place, 

 but in this case the movement is soon over, nor does it occur 

 in all the filaments, many of which, and especially those which 

 first come into contact with the stream, exhibit, instead of 

 active vibratile and locomotive movements, only a few rota- 

 tions on the axis, and then become quiescent in the extended 

 posture. Concentrated solutions of caustic alkalies, contain- 

 ing from 10 to 50 in 100, also produce the phenomena of 

 revivification in a mass of quiescent spermatic filaments, and 



