PHYSIOLOGICAL DEGENERATION IN 0PAT,1NA. 637 



four nuclei, but much larger individuals — up to 50 /i, with 

 nine or ten nuclei — are also found in the same condition. 

 Such forms undergo two remarkable changes — (1) they com- 

 pletely lose all cilia, and (2) they give rise to globules of a 

 substance of high refractivity in their cytoplasm. The nature 

 of these globules I am unable to determine. I may mention, 

 however, that they have the following properties : — 



In the fresh state they are somewhat greenish, and very 

 highly refringent. They are coloured a bright pink with 

 eosin, and a bright greenish-yellow with picric acid. With 

 iodine they appear to become slightly more greenish, but the 

 reaction is not well marked. They are insoluble in water, 

 alcohol, and weak acids and alkalies. Heidenhain's iron 

 hasmatoxylin colours them a dark greyish- or brownish-black 

 — not so dark, however, as the chromatin. Delafield's haema- 

 toxylin does not colour them — neither does borax-carmine. 



From their remarkably vivid coloration with eosin I have 

 termed these globules '' eosinophile " bodies, in ignorance of 

 their chemical constitution. Although they first appear as 

 separate globules of small size, they ultimately run together, 

 forming large masses lying in the cells. They do not appear 

 to have any connection with the nucleus. 



If these degenerate forms be obtained at the right stage, 

 the loss of cilia may be observed in the living animals. It 

 takes some days for all to be completely lost, and all do not 

 seem to disappear in the same way. Apparently some of 

 them actually dissolve, for they become gradually fainter 

 and fainter, and finally disappear. Others are thrown ofi 

 entirely, and after moving spontaneously for a short time 

 after detachment, they become motionless and fade away. 

 Still others undergo fusion with one another, and ultimately 

 with the cytoplasm. In this manner many individuals arise 

 which are completely divested of ciliary covering, and con- 

 tain refringent eosinophile bodies. The nucleus also under- 

 goes remarkable modifications. I term these forms the 

 atrichous forms. 



The nuclear changes which the atrichous forms undergo are 



