572 W. BLAXLAND BRNHAM. 



bedded in a central mass of cj^toplasin, the I'est of wliicli is 

 reduced to delicate threads ramifying" between the globules. 



I found iodine a useful reagent whereby to stain the cyto- 

 plasm, — which takes on a sherry-brown tint — contrasting 

 therein with the cytoplasm of the other cells of the fluid ; it 

 presents the appearance of groups of brown granules between 

 the globules, which are unaffected. This colour disappears 

 on warming, or rather becomes much lighter; but there is no 

 reappeai'ance of the dark tint on cooling. I conclude, there- 

 fore, that these granules are not glycogen. 



These eleocytes, however, contain in some cases highl}' 

 ref riugent granules in addition to the oily globules ; only 

 rarely do the latter occur b}- themselves ; but generally the 

 "granules" are few in number; in a few cases, however, 

 they preponderate. I will return to them in describing the 

 '' granule cells." 



It will be convenient now to describe the reactions of these 

 oily globules. 



Firstly, with respect to stains : 



Rosa finds that gentian violet colours the globules in the 

 eleocytes of Allolobophora blue, the nucleus being violet. 

 The globules in Octocha3tus do not stain in a solution of 

 gentian violet in normal salt ;> the nucleus, however, stains 

 violet, but much less readily than do the other cells of the fluid. 



But if the cells be first killed in corrosive sublimate, and 

 the stain run in, the oily globules take on a blue tint. 



Cyanin, too, is recommended for fat ; and in the fresh 

 condition I find that the oil globules become coloui*ed blue 

 with this reagent. 



The Action of Acids, Alkalis, etc. — Nitric acid 

 (strong) causes the cells to swell, thus exhibiting very clearly 

 the pellicle, which is seen to be folded and creased on its 

 surface — evidence of a membrane of some toughness. The 

 oil globules swell up, graduall}" losing their refringeucy as 

 they do so ; but after the prolonged action of the strong acid, 

 and even after boiling the acid, they remain undissolved. 



Hydiochloric acid gives a similar reaction. 



