DR. MARTIN BARRY ON THE CORPUSCLES OF THE BLOOD. 229 



membrane beneath is usually much softened, and that its vessels seem to have a 

 tendency to prolong themselves into lymph. Some have asserted that vessels and 

 red blood originate in the lymph ; but this has always appeared to me very doubtful. 

 Now if your views be correct, I should see no difficulty in understanding that the 

 vessels of the subjacent membrane prolong themselves, not by any vis a tergo (as 

 some have supposed), but by the development of the blood-corpuscles stagnated in 

 them first into cells and then into tubes, wliich convey blood into the coagulum ; 

 and this blood again contains the elements of a further ramification of capillaries, 

 which will go on being formed in this manner, until a complete network is produced. 

 It may be objected to this view, that coagulated blood ought to become organized 

 more readily than lymph — which experience shows that it does not. But it may be 

 replied that blood mechanically effused is in a very different state of vitality from the 

 coagulable lymph or liquor sanguinis poured out on the surface of an inflamed mem- 

 brane ; and that these changes of the corpuscles do not take place in those of the 

 clot or coagulum itself, but in those of the vessels in the living tissue beneath. It is 

 very interesting to find a theory harmonizing with previous observations, which is I 

 believe the case in this instance. Rows of corpuscles, proceeding from the red points 

 of the subjacent membrane, have been seen in coagulable lymph ; but their import 

 was not known as I believe it now may be-f-." 



The Elements of Cellular Tissue compared with Corpuscles of the Blood. 



133. There is no tissue the elements of which resemble altered blood-corpuscles 

 more than those of the cellular. And there is certainly no tissue which it is of more 

 importance to trace back to such objects, than this ; because of its presence almost 

 everywhere in the body, either as cellular tissue, or in the more condensed state of 

 the parts, into the formation of which it enters. This remark is of course applicable 

 in a pathological, as well as in a physiological point of view. 



134. On reference to figs. 109. 111. 112, it will be seen that the first changes visible 

 in the formation of this tissue, are in no small degree like those presented by the in- 

 cipient pus-globule (par. 101.). And this similarity we shall meet with again and 

 again, as we examine the elements of other tissues. The corpuscle at a, fig. 109, pre- 

 senting the same appearance as a slightly altered corpuscle of the blood, has one 

 large orifice ; in those at j8 there are two or more orifices of smaller size ; and sub- 

 sequently a number of bright points come into view. These points seem to be the 

 cavities or depressions in as many discs, between which discs red colouring matter 

 still lies, and conceals their margins. The bright points, therefore, seem as if con- 

 tained in a mass of red colouring matter. The form of the corpuscle sometimes un- 

 dergoes a considerable change, before the margins of the discs are distinctly seen, as 

 in fig. 109. y; where it presented the appearance of an elongated, flattened mass. 

 The discs, however, are soon distinct (fig. 112.(3, fig. 111.) ; and the explanation of 



t Dated Kingsdown, Bristol, Feb. 8, 1841. 

 2h2 



