208 



THE FLUIDS. 



(Fig. 116.) In the human spermatozoid the body is from gg'gg to 

 -gftuQ of an inch long, and from T7 ^ o to v o ] ou f an i ncn * n width, 

 and the filament is from gg g to gj^ of an inch long. They were 

 formerly regarded as infusorial animalculse, on account of their 

 active motions, the tail striking rapidly from side to side, and pro- 

 pelling the body in a zigzag direction. This motion may be re- 

 tained a long time if the semen is prevented from evaporation, or 

 if placed in tepid serum, saliva, or mucus. If double its quantity 

 of water, is added to the semen, the power of motion is lost. Urine 

 very soon stops the movements. In the interior of the female 

 sexual organs they continue longer than elsewhere. Motion is also 

 destroyed by a solution of opium, by alcohol, by strychnia, and by 

 the electric spark, though not by galvanism. Concentrated solu- 

 tions of sugar, albumen, urea, and various salts re-excite the motions 

 again. If destroyed by strychnia, the tail remains extended. The 

 spermatozQids are not readily destroyed by putrefaction, and may 

 be kept for years as microscopical objects, in the dried state. 



The seminal granules are also peculiar to semen, and within them 

 the spermatozoids are developed. Hence they are also called sperma- 



tophori. These are finely-granular, pale, 

 sharply-outlined corpuscles, from T ^ 

 to Y^ij of an inch in diameter. Fig. 

 117 shows the development within 

 them of the spermatozoids. 



We also find in semen scattered 

 epithelial cells, cytoid (mucus) cor- 

 puscles, and minute fat-granules; nei- 

 ther of which presents any peculiarity. 

 The recognition of semen is often a 

 phases of development of spermato- matter of great medico-legal import- 



zoids. a. Original nucleated cells. 6. A microscopic examination will 



The same enlarged, showing spermato- 

 zoids. c. The latter nearly perfect, but at once detect the spermatozoids, their 



still inclosed -within the cell. n . -, , TT 



form is so characteristic. Urine con- 

 taining semen very readily becomes alkaline. Seminal spots (as on 

 linen) have been shown by Schmidt to differ from all others. The 

 glistening surface of the spot will decide on which side of the linen 

 it is, and here only can spermatozoids be found. He found that 

 seminal spots became of a pale yellow color when kept near the 

 fire for an hour or two, while the form of the spermatozoids is not 



Fig. 117. 



