296 ON THE VITALITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF 



On the Vitality and Developmknt of the Spermatic Fila- 

 ments. By A. KoLLiKER. (From the Verhand. d. phys. 

 med. Gesellsch. in Wurzb. Bd. VI., 1855.) 



Referring to a former communication {vide p. 293), con- 

 taining the observation, that caustic alkalies are powerful 

 excitants of the spermatic filaments, the author believes that 

 he has now arrived at certain results, of which the present 

 paper gives a preliminary account, the more detailed 

 exposition of his inquiries being reserved for a future 

 occasion. 



The results which he has obtained, with respect to the 

 motile phenomena of the spermatic filaments, are embraced 

 in the following propositions, which have reference to the 

 Mammalia. 



1. In 2nire semen, taken from the epidermis and vas deferens, motile 

 spermatic filaments exist in very great abundance. 



2. In ivater and aqueous solutions of all innocuous, indifferent suhstances 

 and salts, the motion of the filaments ceases, and they form loops. 



3. These filaments, thus furnished with loops, are not dead, as has 

 hitherto been generally believed ; i'or, on the contrary, they revive com- 

 jiletely upon the subsequent addition of concentrated solutions of innocuous, 

 indifferent substances (sugar, albumen, urea), and of salts. 



4. In all animal Jluids, when considerably concentrated, or highly 

 saline, which are not too acid nor too alkaline, nor foo viscid, the motions 

 of the spermatic filaments are imimpaired ; this is the case, for instance, 

 in blood, lymph, alkaline or neutral urine, alkaline milk, thin mucus, 

 thick bile, the vitreous humour, — but not in saliva, acid, or strougly- 

 ammoniacal urine, acid milk or mucus, the gastric juice, thin bile, and 

 thick mucus. When the proper degree of concentration of the latter fluids 

 is successfully attained, and their reaction is rendered neutral, they are 

 innocuous. 



5. In all solutions of iiidifferent organic suhstances moderately concen- 

 trated the filaments move with i)erfect facility — thus in all kinds of syrup, 

 in albumen, urea, glycerin, salicin, amygdalin. More concentrated solu- 

 tions of these substances cause the motion to cease, but it is restored upon 

 their subsequent dilution with water. Too dilute solutions act in the 

 same way as water (ywie 2 and 3). 



6. Certain solutions, as they are termed, of indifferent organic substances 

 act like water, however much they may be concentrated, such as solutions 

 of gum arable, vegetable mucus (gum tragacauth, mucilage of quince- 

 seeds), and of dextrin. Concentrated solutions of other substances, in 

 this case also, restore the motions. 



7. Many organic suhstances cause the motions of the filaments to cease, 

 owing to their chemical action upon them, such as alcohol, creosote, 

 tannin, and ether ; others owing to their mechanical effects, as most oils. 

 Narcotics, in certain degrees of concentration, are not injurious. 



8. Metallic salts are injurious, even in extremely dilute solutions ; such, 

 for instance, as a solution containing (j,l of corrosive sublimate. 



9. Most of the ulkidine and rartlnj salts are innocuous in certain degrees 

 of concentration, which iu some is greater and in some less ; so little 

 hurtful, iu fact, are they, that the filaments may be kept alive iu them for 



