278 PROGRESS OF MICROSCOPICAL SCIENCE. 



point from one-half to a third of the distance between the periphery 

 of the membrane and the handle of the malleus return abruptly upon 

 themselves, thus forming a series of vascular loops round the edge of 

 the membrane. The second series of loops run from the handle of 

 the malleus toward the periphery of the membrane. In consequence 

 of this arrangement a portion of the membrane between the annulus 

 tympanicus and the handle of the malleus remains free from capillaries 

 in its normal condition. In the guinea-pig these vascular loops do 

 not exist, but the vessels are arranged in the form of a net with coarse 

 meshes of a quadrangular or pentagonal form. In this animal, moreover, 

 the radiate are strongly developed in comparison with the circular fibres 

 of the membrana tympani. The arrangement of the nerve in these 

 animals is described as " fork-shaped," the prongs embracing the 

 loops, while the handle unites with a similar projection from the 

 opposite series of loops. In the human tympanic membrane the 

 arrangement of the blood-vessels resembles that of the guinea-pig in 

 the absence of loops. The vessels themselves, however, are coarser, 

 and the meshes finer than in that animal. The radiate and circular 

 fibres are, moreover, equal in amount. The conclusions from these 

 observations are the following: — 1. There is a distribution of vessels 

 in the membrana tympani of man peculiar to him. 2. There is a 

 distribution of vessels in tbe tympanic membrane of the dog, cat, 

 goat, and rabbit, constant in as well as peculiar to them. 3. The 

 arrangement of these vessels in the guinea-pig is peculiar to it. — 

 The American Quarterly Journal of Medical Sciences, Jan., 1873. 



On Mobile Filaments in the Blood. — In the ' Irish Hospital Gazette ' 

 (April 1st), Dr. Ponfick, of Berlin, writes concerning the recent im- 

 portant researches of Herren Obermeier and Nedsvetzki on the above 

 subject. He says that the former, one of the physicians of the Charite, 

 has, within the last few days, directed attention to the presence of a 

 foreign body in the blood ; and Professors Virchow, Frerichs, and 

 Langenbeck have acknowledged and confirmed the same. Dr. Ober- 

 meier has very kindly submitted several specimens for the writer's 

 examination in the Pathological Institute. The blood recently taken 

 from patients suffering from relapsing fever was immediately brought 

 under the microscope without any addition. On the persistent con- 

 templation of a fixed portion of the microscopic field, peculiar filiform 

 bodies — which are about the same size as the finest filaments of fibrine, 

 with a length of three red corpuscles, and with a very delicate contour 

 — are seen to emerge in the plasma, amongst the blood corpuscles. 

 As long as the blood remains fresh, distinct movements are observed, 

 which manifest themselves not only as undulatory movements in the 

 filaments themselves, but also as a power of locomotion, which enables 

 them to travel across the field of vision. It is seen, especially, that 

 the bodies exhibit spiral contractions, then again extend themselves, 

 sometimes appearing, and as quickly disappearing from the view. Dr. 

 Obermeier has always failed to find these bodies in the blood of healthy 

 persons, and also of patients suffering from other zymotic diseases, It 

 is worthy of observation, that they are visible in the febrile stage, but 

 are not seen in the stage of remission, and shortly before or during 



