108 



Coefficient of Diffusion into Living Cells. 



spots, 4), it seems possible that germs which proffer the same jelly-like 

 properties as red cells may enter the phagocytes by the process of diffusion 

 and be subject to the same factors which influence it, for the temperature 

 and alkalinity of the blood vary in health and disease. Therefore, it may be 

 important to know the rate of diffusion of leucocytes when estimating 

 phagocytosis. 



I have noted that there appears to be a relationship, in leucocytes at 

 least, between the coefficient of a cell and the length of its life as measured 

 by a procedure which I have already published (5, 8). It has also been 

 shown in a former paper (4) that if stain is passed over a jelly such as agar,, 

 the rate of the coloration of the jelly depends on its consistency, that is, as 

 to whether it is solid or diffluent. In the same paper it was stated that the 

 effect of stain on cytoplasm also depended in a like manner on its consistency. 

 Since there may be a relationship between the coefficient and vitality, the 

 consistency of a cell may depend to some extent upon its vitality. There- 

 fore, the determination of the coefficient of diffusion may prove important in 

 the prognosis of tumours if the cells can be suitably kept alive, since it may 

 give an indication of the consistency of the cytoplasm, and a lowered 

 coefficient, as occurs in the blood cells in antemia, may foretell a lowered 

 vitality. 



Further experimentation is also required to determine the property on 

 which depends the varying influence of alkalies, salts, etc., in hastening or 

 delaying diffusion. 



I hope this method may ultimately prove of value, not only in bacteriology 

 as a means of differentiating bacteria, but also in the investigation of the 

 diffusion of substances into living cells. 



REFERENCES. 



(1) R. Ross, C. E. Walker, Salvin Moore, " Some New Diagnostic Methods," ' Lancet,'' 



July 27, 1907. 



(2) H. C. Ross, " Diffusion of Red Blood Corpuscles through Agar," ' British Medical 



Journal,' May 5, 1906. 



(3) „ " On the Death of Leucocytes," ' Journal of Physiology,' vol. 37, p. 327, 



1908. 



(4) „ " On the Vacuolation of Leucocytes, etc.," ' Journal of Physiology,' 



vol. 37, p. 333, 1908. 



(5) „ " On a Combination of Substances which Excites Leucocytes, etc.,' r 



' Lancet,' January 16, 1909. 



(6) „ "On the Cause of Achromasia in Leucocytes," 'Lancet,' January 23,. 



1909. 



(7) „ " On the Modification of an Excitant for Leucocytes, etc.," ' Lancet,' 



January 30, 1909. 



(8) „ " Some Comparative Measurements of the Lives of Leucocytes, etc.,'" 



' Lancet,' February 6, 1909. 



