682 APPENDIX. 



The red globules are diminished to half their size by prolonged 

 maceration in serum. "Water renders them spherical and de- 

 prives them of their color. In strong syrup they shrink very 

 much, from the rapid exosmosis which takes place. 



Acetic acid renders the membrane of the corpuscle so trans- 

 parent, as to be almost invisible, while nitric acid causes the out- 

 line to become darker and thicker. Acid urine and the acid of 

 the gastric juice produces a similar effect, as is seen in cases of 

 hemorrhagic effusion into the stomach and bladder. 



The colorless or lymph-corpuscles of the blood are spherical, 

 highly refractive, and vary in diameter from the l-2500th to the 

 l-2000th of an inch. They have a granular appearance, which is 

 lost by immersion in water, and are specifically lighter than the 

 colored corpuscles. Within the cell-wall are numerous granules 

 and molecules of different sizes, and one or more nuclei. (Fig. 

 394.) These nuclei are rendered distinct by acetic acid, while 



FIG. 394. 



Colorless corpuscles. Blood in Leucocythemia. 



the granules are dissolved. It has been estimated that the color- 

 less corpuscles constitute about l-50th part of the corpuscular 

 element of healthy blood. In enlargement of the spleen and 

 lymphatic glands they increase in numbers, producing the con- 

 dition called by Bennett, Leucocythemia or "white-cell blood." 

 (Fig. 395.) In some dropsical and cancerous affections, a slight 

 increase of these white globules has been observed. In certain 

 extreme cases they equal the red corpuscles in number. Their 

 nuclei have occasionally been seen quite naked by Yirchow and 

 Bennett. Dr. Beale speaks of finding in the blood of some 

 cholera cases, very large white cells, containing oil -globules col- 

 lected together in one part, while the remainder of the cell was 

 quite transparent. 



Where the blood is thickened from an excess of fibrine the 

 colored corpuscles become caudate or flask-like in shape, and 

 aggregate themselves in irregular masses, instead of in the form 

 of rouleaux. (Fig. 396.) 



According to Funke and Kolliker yellowish crystals are some- 

 times seen in the blood-corpuscles of the spleen of the dog, 

 perch, and other animals. Oil-granules have also been observed 

 in the blood, giving it a lactescent or creamy appearance. The 



