286 PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 



of proteids and mineral bodies, especially NaCl. Besides these it 

 contains a crystalline combination of phosphoric acid with a base, 

 C 2 H 6 N. This combination has been called BOTTCHER'S spermine 

 crystals, and it is claimed that the specific odor of the semen is due 

 to a partial decomposition of these crystals. 



The crystals which appear on slowly-evaporating the semen, 

 and which are also observed in anatomical preparations kept in 

 alcohol, and in desiccated egg-albumin, are identical, according to 

 Sen REINER, with CiTARCOT's crystals found in the blood, and in 

 the lymphatic glands in leucaemia. They are, according to SCHREI- 

 NER, a combination of phosphoric acid with a base, C 2 H 6 N, which 

 he discovered, and this base is, according to LADENBURG and ABEL, 

 probably ethylenimin. 



The semen-fibres (spermatozoa) show a great resistance to 

 chemical reagents in general. They do not dissolve completely in 

 concentrated sulphuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, nor in boiling- 

 hot soda solutions. They are dissolved by a boiling-hot caustic- 

 potash solution. They resist putrefaction, and after drying they 

 may be obtained again in their original form by moistening them 

 with a \<f> common-salt solution. By careful heating and burning 

 to an ash the shape of the spermatozoa maybe seen in the ash. The 

 quantity of ash is about 50 p. m. and consists mainly (f ) of potas- 

 sium phosphate. 



The spermatozoa show well-known movements, but the cause 

 of this is not known. This movement may continue for a very long 

 time, as under some conditions it may be observed for several days 

 in the body after death, and in the secretion of the uterus longer 

 than a week. Acid liquids stop these movements immediately; they 

 are also destroyed by strong alkalies, especially ammoniacal liquids, 

 also by distilled water, alcohol, ether, etc.- The movements continue 

 for a longer time in faintly-alkaline liquids, especially in alkaline 

 animal secretions, and also in properly-diluted neutral salt-solutions. 



According to the investigations of MIESCHER, there are lecithin 

 and nuclein but no cerebrin in the SPERMATOZOA of BULLS. The 

 head of the spermatozoa contains nuclein, which forms probably 

 the outer part of the head: albumin, which forms the contents of 

 the head; and lastly a substance rich in sulphur which has not 

 been studied. The tail dissolves in gastric juice after continuous 



