422 



THE BLOOD 



[CH. XXVI. 



body, 37 C. (98*5 R), the colourless corpuscles will be observed 

 slowly to alter their shapes, and to send out processes at various parts 

 of their circumference. The amoeboid movement, which can be 

 demonstrated in human colourless blood -corpuscles, can be more 

 readily seen in newt's blood. 



The full consideration of amoeboid movement is given on p. 12. 

 An interesting variety of amoeboid movement is that which leads to 

 the ingestion of foreign particles. This gives to the leucocytes their 

 power of taking in and digesting bacilli (phagocytosis). The multi- 

 nucleated, finely granular corpuscles are the most vigorous phagocytes. 



Healthy bacillus 



Healthy bacillus - 



Healthy bacillus. 



Partially digested bacillus. 



Partially digested leucocyte 



Nuclei vacnolated..- 



fete*--- Nucleus. 



-Bacillus in leucocyte. 

 ..Partially digested leucocyte. 



Foreign matter. 



Foreign matter 



Particles of foreign matter. 



^ Particles of foreign matter. 



.,,,.,, _J .Particles of forei<m matter. 



Leucocytes | r^sP* 



FIG. 354. Macrophages containing bacilli and other structures undergoing digestion. (Ruffer.) 



The accompanying figure illustrates this ; the cells represented, how- 

 ever, are not leucocytes, but the large amoeboid cells found in connec- 

 tive tissues, especially in inflamed parts. 



The process of emigration of the leucocytes is described on 

 p. 295. 



Action of Reagents on the colourless corpuscles. Water causes the 

 corpuscles to swell and their nuclei to become apparent. Acetic acid 

 (1 per cent.) has a similar action ; it also causes the granules to aggre- 

 gate round the nucleus. Dilute alkalis produce swelling and bursting 

 of the corpuscles. 



