171 



XXIX. REMARKS ON THE GLOBULES OF BLOOD.* 



By Dr. Henry Lambotte of Brussels. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the numerous published accounts of the blood- 

 globules, by the greater number of physiologists who have followed 

 Malpighi and Leuwenhoeck, it must be admitted that they far from 

 agreed, even at the present day, as regards their history. There are two 

 points above all which are interesting in a scientific point of view, and 

 on which there are conflicting opinions^ thus, some physiologists be- 

 lieve, that each blood-globule is formed of a small nucleus surrounded 

 by a kind of envelope ; others, on the contrary, regard these small 

 bodies as altogether homogenous, where they are naturally situated, 

 but susceptible of presenting a nucleus, when submitted to changes due 

 to external causes. 



The existence of this central nucleus, to which many physiologists 

 assign a most important part, is then not only very uncertain, although 

 it be admitted by great authorities, but others not less imposing, con- 

 sider it a matter of doubt, or reject it altogether. 



A second fact, equally controvertible, is that of the solubility of the 

 globules in water. 



I have made several observations, with a view to arrive at an opinion 

 on this subject. I made use of a simple microscope, furnished with 

 lenses of different powers, the greatest of which magnified from six to 

 eight thousand diameters ; that of from five to six hundred diameters 

 was employed, and was quite sufficient to verify the principal facts. 

 The reflecting mirror was plane. 



If the light be bright, as when it impinges from a large extent of sky, 

 the globules may be seen representing a mass of small grumous vesicles, 

 very regular and clearly defined ; they have a gelatinous aspect, are 

 quite transparent, and have a slight yellow tint. 



If the light be less intense, or if it falls on the reflector at a more 

 limited degree, as, for example, through a window, then the globules 

 are marked either with a deep point occupying the centre, or with a 

 blackish ring, which is nearly concentrical to the border ; but all the 

 globules met with in the field of the microscope, do not present the 



* From the Bulletin de 1'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles Lettres de 

 Bruxelles. Anne 1839. Tom. XVI. Part II. p. ISO. 



