OBSERVATION OF LIVING TISSUES. 161 



have exuded, it may be washed off by pouring a 

 little salt solution over the surface. 



There is now brought to view the fan -like group 

 of muscles which pass through the middle of the 

 lymph sac, and the bundles of which are, as before 

 mentioned, connected with the sides and with one 

 another by delicate septa of connective tissue, tra- 

 versed by a few bloodvessels ; and it is this delicate 

 connective tissue, of which two strata can generally 

 be traced, one superficial to the other, which is better 

 adapted than any other part for exhibiting both ves- 

 sels and connective tissue corpuscles (the latter rather 

 peculiar in form and appearance). Moreover, the 

 mere exposure of the lymphatic surface soon causes 

 inflammatory changes, and after the preparation has 

 been made a few minutes only, the first commence- 

 ment of these is seen in the sticking of the pale cor- 

 puscles to the walls -of the vessels, speedily followed 

 by their migration from the veins into the surround- 

 ing tissue. Nowhere can the fact be more clearly 

 established, and the details of the process more accu- 

 rately followed, than here. Moreover, if the animal 

 is kept properly moist and from time to time given 

 an additional dose of curare, it remains for a long 

 while in a perfectly natural condition, and the in- 

 flammatory process can be studied for as long as may 

 be desired. By examining such a preparation at 

 intervals during several days, the same connective 

 tissue corpuscles being again and again found and 

 brought under observation, it has been conclusively 

 proved that, at all events as regards these corpuscles 

 of the tongue of the full-grown toad, the connective 

 tissue corpuscles take no active part in the process 

 of acute inflammation. The circulation of the blood 

 among the muscular flbres can also be well seen in 

 this part of the tongue. 



Lastly, by focussing through the connective tissue 

 septa, or by severing the longitudinal muscular bun- 

 dles which they serve to unite, the vessels of the 

 lower mucous membrane are brought into view, 



