1874.] in the Liquor Sanguinis. 397 



granules in the field, or sometimes by the red corpuscles ; but an evident 

 difference is soon noticed in the fact that, while the former (also the 

 small corpuscles) undergo a change of place, the latter remain constant 

 in one position or vary but little. 



Movements like those of the ordinary rod-shaped Bacteria are not 

 exhibited by them. 



Circumstances which influence the development. In blood, without 

 the addition of saline solution or serum, no change takes place in the 

 masses even after prolonged warming. A temperature of about 37 C. 

 is necessary for the process ; none occurs at the ordinary temperature, 

 with or without the addition of fluid. Fresh serum is the medium most 

 favourable to the process, added in quantity equal to the amount of blood. 

 Not every mass develops when placed under conditions apparently 

 favourable ; but for this no good reason can, at present, be offered. 



Fig. 8 represents the corpuscles among the red ones while in the 

 vessel ; and, as is there seen, they appear somewhat more elliptical on the 

 profile view, and more elongated, than in blood after withdrawal, but 

 present the same disk-like surfaces when they roll over. On adding 

 saline solution or serum, and warming the preparation, development 

 proceeds, but not to such an extent as from the masses. The individual 

 corpuscles become elongated, some tailed, and they move about in the 

 vessel. At fig. 9 they are seen in the vessel after three hours on the 

 warm stage : the remarkable form seen at a was one 1300th of an 

 inch in length, and had moved up from the opposite end of the vessel. 



It must still be confessed, with Max Schultze, that we know nothing 

 of the origin or destiny of these corpuscles ; and once admit their exist- 

 ence as individual elements circulating in the blood, his suggestion, 

 and Eiess's assertion that the masses arise from the disintegration of 

 white corpuscles, becomes quite untenable. We must also confess the 

 same ignorance of the reasons of their increase in disease ; nor do we 

 know at all what influence they may exert in the course of chronic 

 affections. 



Finally, as there is no evidence that these bodies are in organic con- 

 tinuity with any other recognized animal or vegetable form, or possess 

 the power of reproduction, nothing can at present be said of their nature 

 or of their relation to Bacteria. 



These observations were carried on in the Physiological Laboratory of 

 University College, and my thanks are due to Prof. Sanderson and Mr. 

 Schafer for advice and valuable assistance. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 

 PLATE V. 



Fig. 1. Common forms of the masses from healthy blood. (Ocular 3, Objective 5.) 

 Fig. 2. A mass from healthy blood, in saline solution, showing stages of development: 

 a, at 10 A.M. ; b, at 10.30 A.M. ; c, at 11 A.M. (Ocular 3, Objective 7.) 



