Action of certain Reagents upon Coloured Blood- Corpuscles. 121 



reagent, the effect was more gradual, and somewhat different. The 

 nucleus became brighter as with the other corpuscles, but after a 

 short time the corpuscle suddenly expanded to several times its 

 former size. No bursting was observed, nor did the corpuscle become 

 globular before expansion. The nuclei became bright yellow and 

 granular after the expansion of the corpuscle. The outline of the 

 expanded hull, though faint, could be distinctly seen, as also could 

 indications of a fibrillar stroma in the hull. 



Lactic Acid. 



A solution of lactic acid (24 per cent.) was found to cause at first 

 an irregular crenation of the haemoglobin within its envelope, so 

 that the latter could be seen as a glass-clear structure, separated from 

 its contents at different parts. The nucleus gradually became more 

 distinct and " granular." The corpuscle soon expanded suddenly to 

 several times its original size, the nucleus being well defined, and 

 showing beautifully the fibrillar plexus in its interior. Some of 

 the corpuscles doubtless burst, as free nuclei are found in many parts 

 of the field. Nuclei are also seen with the remains of the hull and 

 envelope of the corpuscle attached to one side. 



Oxalic Acid. 



A 2 per cent, solution of oxalic acid caused the corpuscles and 

 their nuclei to swell up and become globular. The nuclei became 

 tinged yellow. Very soon the corpuscles gave a sudden recoil 

 or jerk, and at the same time elongated. The nucleus was often 

 extruded at the moment of recoil, but in the case of other corpuscles 

 it simply shifted its situation within the corpuscle. Not unfrequently 

 we could watch the nucleus being extruded, and when it was half out 

 and half in the corpuscle it was constricted, but still no envelope 

 was visible in the corpuscle. No actual break was visible on the side 

 of the corpuscle, but the contents of the latter was scattered over the 

 field of the microscope in small yellowish granules. The corpuscles 

 gradually lost their colouring matter, but the nuclei became stained 

 of a bright yellow colour, and showed beautiful plexuses of fibrils in 

 their interior. In many of the corpuscles also many fine fibrils, 

 stained yellow, were observed in the perinuclear part of the cor- 

 puscles, mostly passing in a radial manner from the nucleus to the 

 envelope. (Fig. 4, e, h.) 



These fibrils and the nucleus are well stained by fuchsin or 

 magenta. 



If the action of the acid is gradual both nucleus and corpuscle may 

 be completely decolorised. 



