OF THE GLOBULE OR CELL. 5 



bors, and these also pressing upon each other, most singular 

 forms are assumed in which we ought primarily to see a 

 sphere, which, in fact, may often be found in the deeper or 

 younger layers. Among others, as for instance in the 

 globules, the relations which the nerve globules must form 

 with the nerve fibres, oblige the former to divest themselves 

 of their typical shape to throw out prolongations in stellate 

 form. Thus and from other causes, as will hereafter be 

 observed, we find in the worn-out and modified globule 

 polyhedral forms as well as laminated, cylindro-conical, fusi- 

 form, and stellate forms. 



Color. Globules generally are colorless, though certain 

 have divers colors; the blood globule is red. Others are 

 pigment globules, that is enclosing opaque granulations, 

 which in men are generally dark colored. 



Elasticity. Globules generally are endowed with con- 

 siderable elasticity ; thus a globule flattened by some phys- 

 ical force so as to assume a discoid shape, may, when that 

 force is removed, retake exactly its primary shape. This is 

 seen when, being forced to traverse through a narrow orifice, 

 the globule becomes elongated in a cylindrical form, and 

 then, after emerging from the pass, again assumes its round 

 form. 



Chemical Composition. It may be said of the globules 

 in general, that their chemical composition is quite com- 

 plicated. The dominant element is water; four-fifths of 

 the weight of the globule is made up of this element, and 

 this forms one of the conditions of its vitality, for water 

 serves as the menstruum for other substances. Thus moist- 

 ure may be considered as an empirical character of the 

 life of a globule; cancers which are only an excess of 

 globular life are more acute when they have a more moist 

 consistency. 



After the water in line of importance comes albumen, 

 this substance is almost characteristic of the globule. 1 The 

 gluey substance, or gelatine, which is, on the contrary, charac- 

 teristic of the non-globular elements (connective and even 

 elastic fibres), is never found in the globules. 



In addition to the albumen we find always a certain pro- 

 portion of fat bodies in a state of intimate combination with 



1 This is what gives to the globular masses their plasticity. 

 Egg, liver, and kidney are very nutritious, and these masses are 

 almost entirely composed of ..globules. 



