2 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [January, 
of Laveran and Marchiafava and Celli, but they also found the hyaline bodies 
free from the granules and not included in the red corpuscles. 
It is evident that the question as to the nature of these ‘ hyaline bodies’ is 
likely to have a very important bearing on the etiology of malarial fevers, for, 
if they are parasitic organisms, their position in the interior of the red cor- 
puscles, their presence in vast numbers in quickly fatal ‘ pernicious’ forms of 
malarial disease, and their association with the pigment granules recognized 
as pathognomonic of malarial poisoning, makes it appear extremely probable 
that they bear a causal relation to the morbid phenomena which constitute the 
disease. That the red blood corpuscles are destroyed in large numbers in the 
disease is proven by actual count, and profound anemia is a known accom- 
paniment. This result will be easily comprehended if we have to deal with an 
organism which destroys the red corpuscle, and the evidence tends to prove 
that such is actually the case. 
There can be no doubt that the hyaline bodies above referred to correspond 
with the similar bodies described by Laveran and found by him in blood freshly 
drawn from the fingers of patients suffering from intermittent fever. 
The writer at this point quotes extensively Laveran’s own words, descrip- 
tive of his results and modes of study ; these we shall be compelled to abridge 
somewhat, retaining the sense so far as possible. 
Laveran says that his work is the fruit of five years’ researches in Algeria. 
An analysis of anatomical lesions, occurring in patients who died of malarial 
fever, showed in every case, as the only constant lesion, the presence of pig- 
mented elements of the blood. These had been previously known, having 
been described by Frerichs, but their nature was obscure, and in studying 
these it was that he recognized their parasitic nature. In 1880 he recognized 
the existence of mobile filaments attached to the pigment bodies of which the 
animated nature was not doubtful. Their presence he verified in four hundred 
and thirty-two patients attacked with the disease. and he never encountered 
them elsewhere. In 1882 he made a special trip to Rome and convinced 
himself of the presence of the same microbes in malarial patients from the 
Campagna. 
Laveran recommends the following methods of study :—1. Blood from 
patient at the outset of the access of fever, or during the hours which precede 
the invasion of fibrile paroxysm, contains the parasites in greatest numbers, 
and should therefore be used; better also to choose patient who has suffered 
several malarial attacks, and is consequently very anemic, and the patient 
must, above all, not have taken sulphate of quinia for some time. 2. Prepare 
two thin covers and two glass slides which are first to be thoroughly cleansed. 
After cleansing patient’s finger, first with water then with alcohol, compress 
the finger at the base and puncture with a new needle. The drop of blood is 
then caught upon the slide, which should not be allowed to touch the skin, 
and then at once covered with one of the glass covers; it is well to slightly 
moisten the cover-glass and slide from the breath before using. The blood 
should be examined pure without any diluting fluid, the serum preserving the 
vitality of the parasites best. No cementneed be applied. As the blood around 
the margin dries it will protect the central portion, which one generally finds 
fluid after 24 or even 48 hours. 3. In examining the slide an amplification 
of 400-500 diameters suffices. | 
Those places should be chosen where the red corpuscles lie flat and form 
buta single layer. Corpuscles, at first united, frequently become isolated after 
a few moments and present themselves ez face, hence the examination is 
best 10 or 15 minutes after the preparation has been made. The search is 
rendered more difficult by the fact that the parasites are generally present in 
small numbers. The pigment granules found in the parasitic elements call_ 
