228 ON THE PATHOLOGICAL MORPHOLOGY OF SOME ANIMAL FLUIDS. 



The coverings exposed for a long time to distilled water, perceptibly 

 swell, and are ultimately broken, the central vesicle, surrounded by the 

 primitive molecules, remaining ; but this being deficient, the congregated 

 primitive molecules alone remain. Plate 6, fig. 97, m, n. 



Globules exposed for a long time to the air have yellow polygonal 

 margins, which surround a white pellucid space. Plate 6, fig. 98. 



Acetic acid sp. gr. 1,030, renders the globules diaphanous, the co- 

 verings sensibly vanish, with from two to five nuclei, which at first were 

 not clearly seen, remaining ; the nuclei, which have an amber-yellow 

 colour, are round, and their magnitude is in indirect relation to their 

 number. Hence, when you perceive five nuclei, their diameter scarcely 

 exceeds one-third of that of the blood-globules ; but when two only are 

 seen, their diameter exceeds the half of that of the blood- globules. 



The nuclei within the margin have a black ring, and within this 

 they show another black ring, enclosing a central lucid spot. Plate 

 6, fig. 99. 



The nuclei swim together in a certain symmetrical order in the sur- 

 rounding fluid, which being evaporated, they disappear, and nothing 

 except the rudiments of the envelopes, previously softened in acetic acid, 

 again comes into view ; they bear an irregular angular or spherical 

 figure, with a very thin black or punctated margin, showing in their 

 centre a white pellucid spot surrounded by extremely fine points. 

 Plate 6, fig. 100, a and b. 



Oxalic acid produces the same change as acetic acid. 



Tartaric acid quickly produces the same changes. 



Solution of caustic potash 1,350, quickly dissolves the globules, 



wound, and exposed to the influence of external agencies, and therefore forsaken, 

 as it were, by the organizing principle, begin to degenerate in their organization, and 

 to suffer changes in their chemical constitution, whilst those that continue in imme- 

 diate contact with the living structures of the body, advance in their organization : 

 those globules that are cast loose then die mors vitae origo. 



" On the exudation-globules that are free, a number of delicate lines, radiating 

 from a centre, are first perceived, which divide their peripheries into from six to 

 eight (seldom more) segments ; these lines become more and more distinct, and the 

 capsule appears as if it were torn or cleft, but without separation of parts ; in many 

 globules, too, the nucleus now appears inclined to fall into from two to three pieces ; 

 the originally reddish -yellow colour of the globules fades, the segments of the enve- 

 lope and divisions of the nucleus, which had been linear and sharp in appearance, 

 become rounded off till they appear like aggregated granules, whilst the pus, now 

 completely formed, acquires a greenish-yellow hue." Berber's Elements of Anatomy , 

 translated by Mr. Gulliver. 



