TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 125 



On the Physiology of the Spermatozoa. 

 By Professor Kolliker, of Wurzburg, 



The first part of this paper treated of the effects of various reagents on the 

 vitality and movements of the spermatozoa. From a great many observations and 

 experiments on the effects of water, and various aqueous and other solutions of salts, 

 acids, alkalies, indifferent substances, such as sugar, gura, albumen, urea, and many 

 others, it appeared that a certain degree of concentration of these solutions is favour- 

 able to the maintenance of the motion of the spermatozoa, and that other degrees, 

 either too low or too high, are hurtful. It was also ascertained that the spermatozoa 

 might be revivified, or their motion restored by solutions of a certain degree of con- 

 centration bearing a fixed relation to that in which the motions had been lost, or 

 when it had ceased from merely keeping the sperm ; and that the caustic alkalies, 

 soda, potash, and ammonia (not lime or baryta) have a special action in maintaining 

 and restoring the motions of the spermatozoa. And it was further observed, by a 

 series of comparative experiments, that while the action of different solutions on 

 the spermatozoa is nearly similar in the several classes of Mammals, Birds, Am- 

 phibia, and Fishes, there is an appropriate degree of concentration of the solutions 

 and reagents specially adapted to the maintenance of the motions of the spermatozoa 

 in the animals belonging to each class. 



From the very numerous facts detailed, the author deduced the conclusion, that 

 the movements of the spermatozoa do not depend on mere endosmosis and exos- 

 mosis, but ought to be regarded as a truly vital phsenomenon, or one depending on 

 vital conditions, and which may be considered as belonging to the same class with, 

 or bearing an analogy to the movements of cilia and those of the muscular parts. 



With reference to the analogy between the phsenomena presented by the seminal 

 filaments and the motions of cilia and infusoria. Professor Kolliker found, by a 

 series of observations on several of these structures, that there is a very great 

 analogy in the action of different solutions on them and that which he had previously 

 ascertained in the spermatozoa. 



The author gave, in another part of the paper, comparative analyses of the sperm 

 of different animals. In the sperm of the Bull, he has discovered the fatty principle 

 named Myeline by Virchow, analogous to the phosphuretted fatty matters occurring 

 in the brain, and the same as that discovered by Gobley in the sperm of the Carp- 

 fish. 



Professor Kolliker also called attention to the remarkable resistance of the sper- 

 matozoa to destruction by different chemical reagents, even of considerable strength, 

 such as organic and mineral acids, and caustic alkalies, as bearing upon the ques- 

 tion of the changes which these filaments undergo in the ovum subsequent to 

 fecundation. 



The second part of Professor Kolliker's paper related to the development of the 

 spermatic bodies of the higher Vertebrata. From a series of observations recently 

 instituted by him, it appeared that within the spermatic cells nuclei are contained 

 in variable numbers, from one or a few up to twenty or more. Out of each of these 

 nuclei one spermatozoon takes its origin by the conversion of the whole nucleus into 

 the body part of the spermatozoon, while the filament is developed by the gradual 

 elongation or extension of one side or pole of the nucleus. The spermatozoa, after 

 they have assumed the filamentary shape, are still contained for a time in the sper- 

 matic cells, coiled up in a spiral form. They afterwards escape by the perforation 

 or laceration of the cell-walls. 



These observations lead to some modification of the description of this process of 

 development previously given by the author. 



Demonstration of the Trichomonas vaginalis of Donne. 

 By Professor Kolliker, of Wurzburg. 



Professor Kolliker exhibited to the Section, with the microscope, from specimens 

 of vaginal mucus which were furnished by Dr. Tannahill from the Lock Hospital, 

 the Trichomonas vaginalis discovered by Donne many years ago, but since only 



