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line of the corpuscle of the frog, and a precipitation in the 
body, whilst the nucleus remains clear. If corpuscles of the 
frog be submitted suddenly to the action of absolute alcohol, 
many become distorted in shape; the outline of all assumes 
some irregularity, and the wall seems thickened (fig. 8 d). 
A coarse flocculent precipitate is visible im the body of the 
corpuscle, whilst the nucleus is not affected, except in so far as 
it is rendered less distinct by the turbidity of the body. Mam- 
malian corpuscles become granulated by the action of alcohol. 
We thus see in the action of weak acetic acid, or Co,, on 
the one hand, and of alcohol on the other, an important 
distinction between the chemical nature of the body and the 
nucleus of the oviparous corpuscle, and an agreement of the 
entire mammalian corpuscle with the body only of the ovi- 
varous corpuscle. 
13. Effect of ammonia gas.—The action of ammonia on 
the red blood-corpuscles has not hitherto been studied. It 
is very curious, and I have examined it carefully. First, 
as to its effect on the frog’s corpuscle. The first experiments 
I made on this point were in the summer of 1870.1 I then 
found that on drawing strong ammonia gas into the chamber 
I instantly obtained the forms drawn in figs. 14 a and 5 d, and 
the corpuscles became very soon entirely broken up. But on 
diluting the source from which the ammoniacal fumes were 
given off, so as to admit but the merest trace of ammonia, 
just perceptible by the nose, I obtained curious changes in 
the form of the corpuscles, as seen in fig. 14 a, these being 
restored to the normal form (or to an oval form very nearly 
identical with their original one) by the substitution of a 
current of Co, for the ammonia. If the ammonia had been 
allowed to act a certain time, and Co, were then substituted, 
the nuclei became granulated as after the action of water. 
Atmospheric air then drawn in caused the radiate con- 
dition of the body. When the ammonia was slowly 
increased in strength, the corpuscles were caused gradually 
to assume a spherical form, then the sphere became smaller 
and smaller, and suddenly all the colouring matter, and pro- 
bably other constituents, passed out of it, and left a pale, 
irregular stroma, with a large clear nucleus swollen up 
beyond its normal size. Further increase in the strength of 
the ammonia completely dissolved this. When liquid am- 
monia of considerable strength (I cannot give the exact 
strength at which such phenomena will occur) is allowed -to 
run under the covering-glass where frog’s blood already is, 
? I have to thank Dr. Burdon Sanderson for allowing me to make some 
of these observations in his laboratory, 
