occurring in the Liquor Sanguinis. 147 



developments from large masses, are the forms with three or more 

 tail-like processes attached to a small central body (Fig. 5, k). 

 Among the granules it is extremely difficult to determine accurately 

 the number of these processes, the apparent number of which may 

 also vary in the dijBferent positions assumed by the element. As to 

 the ultimate destiny of the individual forms, I have not much to 

 offer; I have watched single ones, with this view, for several 

 consecutive hours without noticing any material alteration in them. 

 The one represented at Fig. 6 was watched for four hours, that at 

 Fig. 7 for five, and the changes sketched. The difficulty of 

 following up individual filaments in this way is very great, not only 

 from the ensuing weariness, but from the obstacle the red corpuscles 

 offer to it. 



With regard to the movement of the filaments, this, at first 

 sight, bears some resemblance to that known as the Brownian, 

 exhibited by granules in the field, or sometimes by the red 

 corpuscles ; but an evident difl'erence is soon noticed in the fact that, 

 while the former (also the small corpuscles) undergo a change of 

 place, the latter remain constant in one position, or vary but little. 



Movements like those of the ordinary rod-shaped Bacteria are 

 not exhibited by them. 



Circumstances which influence the development. — In blood, 

 without the addition of saline solution or serum, no change ' akes 

 place in the masses even after prolonged warming. A temperature 

 of about 37^ C. is necessary for the process ; none occurs at the 

 ordinary temperature, with or without the addition of fluid. Fresh 

 serum is the medium most favourable to the process, added in 

 quantity equal to the amount of blood. Not every mass develops 

 when placed under conditions apparently favourable ; but for this 

 no good reason can, at present, be offered. 



Fig. 8 represents the corpuscles among the red ones while in 

 the vessel; and, as is there seen, they appear somewhat more 

 elliptical on the profile view, and more elongated, than in blood 

 after withdrawal, but present the same disk-like surfaces when they 

 roll over. On adding saline solution or serum, and warming the 

 preparation, development proceeds, but not to such an extent as 

 from the masses. The individual corpuscles become elongated, some 

 tailed, and they move about in the ve.ssel. At Fig. 9 they are seen 

 in the vessel after three hours on the warm stage : the remarkable 

 form seen at a was rsVo^^ of an inch in length, and had moved up 

 from the opposite end of the vessel. 



It must still be confessed, with Max Schnltze, that we know 

 nothing of the origin or destiny of these corpuscles ; and once admit 

 their existence as individual elements circulating in the blood, his 

 suggestion, and Kiess's assertion that the masses arise from the 

 disintegration of white corpuscles, becomes quite untenable. We 



