268 M. Lestiboudois on the Vessels of the Latex, 



scope shows the liquid in rapid motion^ dragging the globules 

 along with it, taking its course through the vessels and their 

 anastomotic ramifications, and reaching their collateral branches, 

 where it encounters other currents either pursuing the same or 

 an opposite direction. At times the globules accumulate at 

 some part of the vessel, and appear to block it up, until, by an 

 effort of organic power, the obstacle is removed, and the stream 

 resumes its ordinary course, unless it be diverted into an- 

 other. 



At points where the vessels are contracted, the globules may 

 be frequently seen to overcome the incomplete barrier to their 

 course by a leaping movement. All these phenomena can be 

 indisputably made out ; they represent a circulatory or at least 

 an oscillatory movement, which cannot be gainsaid. The term 

 cyclosis has been applied to it to distinguish it from the ordinary 

 circulation, which conducts fluids regularly and towards a cer- 

 tain organ. 



It has been asserted that this movement is due simply to the 

 escape of fluid consequent on the wounding of the vessels prior 

 to examination, or on the effects of heat, or on those of pressure 

 or twisting to which the tissues are subjected. However, this 

 same movement may be observed in entire and uninjured organs, 

 and neither its constancy nor its rapidity can be explained by the 

 occurrence of pressure. If the act of cyclosis be denied, there 

 are equal, and indeed stronger, reasons for denying the gyration 

 or rotation of the liquids within cells. The movements in these 

 are sometimes so complicated that their granules, as they course 

 along in reticulated lines through a substance of mucilaginous 

 consistence, seem to circulate in an outstretched capillary net- 

 work, either from the centre to the periphery or from the peri- 

 phery towards the centre, and either to collect in a mass or to 

 distribute themselves abroad. The transfer of granular liquids 

 in the vasa propria is not less remarkable nor less constant than 

 is that witnessed in the interior of cells. 



The explanations offered by ]\I. Schultz may at the same time 

 be rejected. For our part, we are not disposed to adopt the 

 hypothesis of repulsion and attraction among the granules of 

 the proper juices; we do not look upon the contractility of the 

 vessels as proved, but we cannot overlook the constant pheno- 

 menon of the transportation of the liquid contents of the vasa 

 propria — not regularly from one point towards another, but in 

 such a manner that the granules are driven into all the ramifi- 

 cations of a more or less complicated network. The force which 

 causes their circulation also contributes, in all probability, to 

 their frequently rapid effusion when the tissues are wounded; 

 and this force is destroyed with the cessation of life. Not a drop 



