52 
De. "Beale^ on the Germinal Matter of the Blood, 
ingly thin sections^ which may be examined with the highest 
power s_, and investigated with precision. 
In fig. 5, at bj c, cells, which would he called by some 
'^enlarged connective-tissne-corpnscles/^ are represented. 
The germinal matter has already divided into several spheri- 
cal masses (small white blood-corpuscles) . The cell is con- 
nected with neighbouring cells by channels as yet too narrow 
to permit the corpuscles to pass. The large figure represents 
a portion of a tube in a more advanced condition ; this was 
seen to be actually continuous with a true vessel at a^ so 
that no doubt could exist as to its real nature. This tube 
was also packed with similar masses of living or germinal 
matter which might fairly be termed white blood-corpuscles, 
and in some places a few red corpuscles could be seen which 
had doubtless passed in from the general circulation. 
Origin from the ^' nuclei'^ of fully formed capillaries. — As 
the formation of the young capillary vessels proceeds, the 
free particles of matter continue to multiply in number, 
and it is probable that the serous fluid in which the corpuscles 
are suspended, is formed by them. In that part of the tube 
which corresponds to the body of the original cell germinal 
matter still remains. This may take part in the formation 
of new vessels. It is usually called the " nucleus of the 
capillary, and is said to represent the nucleus of the 
original cell. In it, smaller nuclei often appear. 
These masses of germinal matter connected with the 
capillary walls vary much in size under different circum- 
stances. In some cases the masses of germinal matter seem 
to be embedded in the substance of the capillary wall, but 
oftentimes they project quite into the capillary tube in such 
a manner as to interfere with the free 'passage of its contents 
(figs. 8 and 12). The blood-corpuscles, one after the other, 
impinge upon and gradually pass by this imperfect obstruction. 
I think it probable that small particles of this so-called 
" nucleus may be detached from time to time, and these, 
passing into the current of the circulation, would become 
small corpuscles of the nature of white blood-corpuscles. In 
fig 9, one of these nuclei, from which protrusions are taking 
place, is represented. 
I conclude, therefore, that white blood-corpuscles may be 
derived not only from the germinal matter of the cell which 
takes part at an early period of development in the formation 
of capillaries, and that which is concerned in the formation of 
capillaries in the adult tissues and in morbid growths, but 
also from that mass of germinal matter (nucleus) which exists 
