286 THE FIGURES OF EQUILIBRIUM OF A LIQUID MASS 
rigorous, it would be requisite for all parts of the mass to be actuated by the 
same velocity, which is not the case with the vein; we can, however, under- 
stand, that, although this difference may be capable of producing some modifi- 
cations in the phenomenon, it cannot prevent its production. 
The liquid of the vein, therefore, during its movement must necessarily 
gradually form a series of isolated spheres. But as this liquid is constantly 
being renewed, the phenomenon of transformation must also continue to be 
renewed. In the second place, as each portion of the liquid begins to be sub- 
jected to the configuring forces as soon as it forms a part of the imperfect 
cylinder which the vein tends to form, 7. e., from the moment at which it passes 
the contracted section, and subsequently remains during its course under the 
continued action of these forces, it is evident that each of the diviszons of the 
vein must begin to be formed at the contracted section and to descend, con- 
veyed by the movement of transference of the liquid, modifying itself by de- 
grees so as to arrive at the state of an isolated sphere. Hence it follows that, 
at any given instant, the divisions of the vein must exist in a more advanced 
phase of transformation in proportion as they are considered at a greater dis- 
tance from the contracted section, at least as far as that at which the transform- 
ation into spheres is completely effected. From the orifice to the distance 
where the separation of the masses occurs, the vein must evidently be continu- 
ous; but at a greater distance, the portions of liquid which pass must be iso- 
lated from each other. 
If, then, the movements of the liquid, both that of translation and that of 
transformation, were sufficiently slow to allow of our following them with our 
eyes, the vein would appear to be formed of two distinct parts, the one superior 
and continuous, the other inferior and discontinuous. The surface of the for- 
mer would present a series of dilatations and constrictions, which would descend 
with the liquid, becoming constantly renewed after passing the contracted sec- 
tion, and which, although very feebly indicated at their origin near this section, 
would become more and more marked during their movement of transference, 
the dilatations becoming more prominent and the constrictions narrower: these 
divisions of the vein arriving one after the other, in their greatest development, 
at the lower extremity of the continuous part, would be seen to become detached 
from it, and immediately to complete their assumption of the spherical form. 
Moreover, the separation of each of these masses would necessarily be pre- 
ceded by the formation of a line which would resolve itself into spherules of 
different diameters, so that each isolated sphere would be succeeded by similar 
sphertles. The discontinuous part of the vein would then be seen to con- 
sist of isolated spheres of the same size and of equal spherules arranged in 
the intervals of the former, both of them being conveyed by the movement of 
translation, and being unceasingly renewed at the extremity of the continuous 
part. 
Now Savart’s beautiful investigations* have taught us that this is, in fact, 
the real constitution of the vein; except that under ordinary circumstances an 
extraneous cause, which was also pointed out by Savart, more or less modifies 
the form of the divisions of the continuous part, and alters the sphericity of 
the isolated masses composing the discontinuous part; but Savart has given 
the means of excluding this influence, of which we shall speak hereafter. 
70. Now as the movement of transference is too rapid to allow of the phe- 
nomena which are produced in the vein being recognized by direct observation, 
certain peculiar appearances ought to be the result of this. We must remember 
here, that when a liquid cylinder becomes resolved into spheres, the rapidity 
with which the transformation takes place is accelerated, and consequently at 
the commencement is extremely small. In consequence, then, of this original 
minuteness and of the velocity of the movement of transference in the vein, 
* Annales de Chimie et de Physique, Aofat 1833. 
