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



162. It is to Valentin and Schwann that we are indebted for the observation, that 

 the muscle-cylinder is formed of nucleated cells. But the other facts now men- 

 tioned-J-, I believe are new ; namely, the more or less blood-red colour of the original 

 cells (fig. 135.), the presence of discs in their interior, the derivation of these discs 

 from the nucleus, the existence of an orifice at a certain part of the nucleus, and a 

 continuation of these appearances in the muscle-cylinder, or " secondary J" cell. We 

 may hereafter see reason for thinking it not unimportant, that the contents of the 

 " primitive" cell, and those of the " secondary" cylinder, should have their origin in 

 the nucleus ; as well as to connect this fact with the existence of the orifice in ques- 

 tion. The muscle-cylinder thus contains centres such as we have seen elsewherej 

 (pars. 130, 152, 178.). 



163. The discs filling the muscle-cylinder, are the seat of elaborate changes ; as is 

 to be inferred, I think, from the very remarkable appearances they afterwards present. 

 These appearances will form the subject of a future memoir, which it is my intention 

 to offer to the Society; for I feel it incumbent upon me, because due to the Society, 

 to show that certain conjectures in one of my former papers, printed in the Philoso- 

 phical Transactions, have been fully realized. 



The Elements of the Crystalline Lens compared with Corpuscles of the Blood. 



164. If there is any structure which it would at first sight seem impossible to trace 

 back to corpuscles having the same appearance as corpuscles of the blood, that 

 structure is surely the crystalline : and none but the most conclusive evidence will 

 suflSce, to prove that this admits of being done. Whether the observations I have 

 to offer are of this character, the future must determine. I can only say that they 

 were repeatedly confirmed. 



165. I am enabled to verify Professor Schwann's description of the pale cells of 

 the crystalline ; except as regards the nucleus, nucleolus, and contents of the cell. 

 (But in these respects my views are peculiar, with reference to " cells" in general : 

 a remark applying also to the mode of formation of the membrane of the " cell," 

 to the manner in which cells are reproduced, and to the secondary nature of the 

 "cell" (par. 1/3.)). My observations also corroborate his view, that the foundation 

 of the fibres of the lens consists of cells. But they do not enable me to adopt the 



T Though merely an extension of those I formerly communicated with reference to the ovum. 



X In later stages there exist other centres for the origin of new substance within the cylinder ; and chiefly 

 in its central part. Some of these have been figured by Schwann {I. c, Tab. IV. figs. 1, 2.), and especially 

 by Bowman (Philosophical Transactions, 1840, Part II. PI. XVIII.), who denominates them the " corpuscles 

 of the primitive fasciculi." I recommend particular attention to the observations of the last-named author, on 

 these corpuscles (l. c, pp. 484, 485.). He considers it "not impossible that" *** " there may be during de- 

 velopment and subsequently, a farther and successive deposit of corpuscles, from which both growth and 

 nutrition may take their source" (/. c, p. 485.). In this I concur; and may add, that the process we saw in 

 operation in the germinal spot, and, as above described, in muscle, — is no doubt applicable to each of the cor- 

 puscles observed by Bowman ; which in my opinion are continually reproduced by division. 



