Bakewell.— On the Red Corpuscles of the Blood. xxxiii 



The next day another specimen kept under the same conditions is noted 

 as having " great diversities in size of the red corpuscles, hufc, as a rule, much 

 smaller." The next day it is noted that "there are still red corpuscles 

 dividing, and many in pairs, as if not yet separated. A number of pale cells, 

 like decolourized red corpuscles. All these disappear with acetic acid." 



These notes were made primarily with reference to the reproduction of 

 vaccine and pus, and with no intention of experimenting on the red corpuscles 

 which had got in accidentally. About this time, having under his care some 

 cases of croupous pneumonia, the writer examined the rusty coloured sputa, 

 and then found that in specimens distinctly coloured to the naked eye there 

 was either very few, or in some cases no normal red corpuscles, but many 



■esrular 



and 



those made bv Beale, as far as the 



changes in form go, but he does not speak of them as occurring out of the body. 



will 



somewhat altered in shape, generally much swollen, and arranged like a string 

 of beads. These are often pulled out by the mucus, in which they are 

 entangled. If this mucus be submitted to the heat of the human body for a 



be 



occupying 



the red corpuscles which have disappeared. This experiment must be very 

 carefully performed, as sputum detached from the body, but kept at a 

 temperature of 98-6, will putrify in about six hours, and gives off a most 

 horrible smell. Apparently this is from the mixture of saliva, as mucus 

 hawked up from the throat direct, without touching the mouth, keeps for a 

 much longer time — twenty hours in fact. Possibly the presence of the sulpho- 

 cyanides in the saliva may favour rapid decomposition. 



be 



diffused throug 

 could take nlac 



convinced the writer that some vital changes 



and 



temperature of 98.6. 

 On thinking the matter over, it occurred to the writer that the nucleated 



be 



means 



more clearly the nature of the changes that took place. By this 



* - 



inconveniences attending the use of mammalian blood — such as the extreme 



smallness of the corpuscles 



ivoided, hut as it was diffici 

 in many of the experiment 

 lich answers iust as well as 



The 



