'^Sou^TjanSrn ^^^^^ FatJiological Processes. 21 
second, or beta, band is somewbat broader. Tbis is not bemato- 
crystalline in tbe ordinary form. Measurements sbow tbat tbere 
is a difference, wbicb is of importance wben we consider tbe many- 
products of decomposition wbicb tbe blood yields. 
Tbere is anotber singular body contained in rice-water, tbe pre- 
sence of wbicb can only be sbown by indirect means, rbodofluine. 
Upon treatment witli nitric acid tbis body assumes a splendid pink 
colour, and tben is powerfully fluorescent. Tbat is an important 
property to bear in mind, because we are at present not acquainted 
with any otber substance wbicb yields tbat reaction. Possibly it 
may be also a derivate from tbe bematocrystalline. At all events 
tbis substance is tbe most specific, perbaps tbe only specific, one 
contained in rice-water. 
We furtber bave ammonia and compound alkalies wbicb, in tbe 
place of one or all of tbe atoms of bydrogen contained in ammonia, 
contain a compound radicle. Amongst tbem probably is trimetbyl- 
amine and monometbylamine ; and also, possibly, more complicated 
amines witb bigber radicles. 
Tbe animals wbicb occur in tbe cbolera-stool are called by 
microscopists "vibriones." Tbey bave notbing specific. If you 
allow any animal matter to putrefy, sucb as urine or meat, in 
water, you will find numbers of vibriones. Tbey are excessively 
small, and require bigb powers of tbe microscope to be seen ; but 
wben you bave tbem under bigb powers, you can see tbem move 
about, and put tbeir beads against tbe glass and flatten tbem ofi". 
Tbey bave apparently no internal structure. Tbey are properly 
called vibriones, because tbey vibrate or oscillate to and fro witbout 
necessarily cbanging tbeir place. I bave observed tbe mode in 
wbicb tbey multiply, — it is by division, in tbe manner in wbicb 
many animals of tbe worm tribe and of otber lower types of animals 
multiply. Tbe vibrio moves its body incessantly to and fro, just as 
tbe naids, and tben it begins to make a division near tbe middle. 
It gets narrower, and acquires a waist, and presently it is divided, 
and you bave two vibriones. Tbis multiplication takes place so 
rapidly, tbat in urine wbicb is sufficiently dilute, you will find 
innumerable individuals produced in twenty-four bours from one 
single vibrio. 
You find anotber important ingredient in tbe cbolera-stool, 
namely, epitbelium cells of tbe intestinal canal. You know tbat, 
for tbe most part, tbat canal is so constructed tbat it possesses a 
great many projections of tbe form of little microscopical fingers, 
wbicb are called villi. Of tbese villi tbere are about ten millions in 
the intestinal canal of man. Each of tbese is covered with a film 
of cylindrical cells, which when seen in section have in their body 
a cylindrical shape, but at the end becoming more conical. 
Now what occurs in cholera is this — that from many of tbese 
