PART I.] Continuotcs ObseT^ations on Choleraic Blood. 149 



It will be seen that the results here recorded are almost identical with those of 

 the former report ; showing the same absence of bacteria, fungi, or other extraneous 

 bodies; and the same general prevalence of considerable leucocytosis. There is one 

 phenomenon, however, prominently noted in this instance which was not adverted 

 to previously, and that is the diffluent condition of the red corpuscles. This was 

 observed in no less than twenty instances, the condition being very strongly 

 pronounced in four of these. It showed itself in a tendency manifested by the 

 corpuscles to aggregate in irregular masses in place of forming the normal rouleaux ;* 

 and, in ordinary preparations where any pressure was exerted, and in which there was 

 any movement of the fluid, in the ease with which the corpuscles altered their forms, 

 were drawn out into irregular processes or adhered to one another by elastic protru- 

 sions. Fine fibrinous filaments were observed in the serous spaces in fourteen 

 preparations, disappearing as the clot contracted, and the corpuscles became closely 

 aggregated to one another. A " zone immobile " of spectral bacteria was present in 

 four cases, and bacteria and fungi made their appearance after intervals of some days 

 in four others. 



In place of repeating the general statements contained in the previous report 

 regarding the phenomena observed in specimens of choleraic blood in general, it may 

 be well here to introduce a detailed account of those occurring in an individual 

 characteristic case in which observations were carried on for some time. 



Three specimens of blood were obtained three hours before death from a patient, 

 pulseless, in profound collapse, and with a rectal temperature of 105° F. The blood 

 was very dark-coloured and appeared abnormally thick. Of the three specimens one 

 (ft) consisted of an ordinary preparation destined for immediate examination, whilst the 

 other two (6 and c) were mounted in wax-cells for continued observation. The first 

 specimen {a) was examined at once. The red corpuscles were aggregated in irregular 

 masses, appeared very diffluent, and showed very little tendency to form rouleaux. 

 Leucocytes were present in extreme abundance and in a state of great activity. In 

 some of the serous spaces an appearance of a meshwork of very delicate threads was 

 visible, due to the presence of filaments of a fibrinous nature in some cases; to fine 

 processes connected with active leucocytes in others ; and to fallacious appearances due 

 to the presence of very tenuous, ill-defined leucocytes, the contained molecules of which, 

 coming out more distinctly into view than the investing protoplasm, appeared as 

 though free in the surrounding fluid. Not a trace of bacteria or of vibriones could be 

 made out. 



The two other preparations were not examined for twenty-two hours. At the close 

 of that period both presented similar features, so that one description is sufficient for 

 them. The serum was abundant and quite clear, forming a wide zone around the 



* This phenomenon has been observed by MM. Coze and Felz in the blood in septicaemia, typhoid, 

 variola and measles (op. cit. pp. 76, 148, 196, 242), and by Davaine in that in charbon (C(mptes Eendus, 

 T. LVII, p. 351, August 10th, 1863. 



