TUINSACTIONS OF MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES VI & VII, 
Illustrating Dr. Beale^s observations upon the Red Blood- 
corpuscle (page 32). 
PLATE VI. 
Eigs. 1 and 3 show the curious alterations inform observed to take place 
in the red blood-corpuscle of the frog. The corpuscles in fig. 1 assumed 
the forms represented within an hour after they had been removed from the 
frog, placed on a glass slide, and covered with thin glass. The change was 
clearly not due to pressure, because numerous corpuscles close to the altered 
ones retained their ordinary oval form. After the drawing was made, the 
thin filament in the upper part of fig. 1 became much longer, and exhibited 
constant undulatory movements. 
By the application of a gentle heat (a little above 100°), long and very fine 
filaments were invariably formed, as shown in the case of human blood-cor- 
puscles represented in fig. 2. All the filaments exhibited very active undula- 
tory movements^ and all the separate particles were in a state of active 
molecular movement. Many of these particles and filaments could not be 
distinguished in appearance from bacteria. This figure is magnified 1800 
diameters. 
In fig. 3 some of the curious vibratile filaments formed by the red 
colouring matter of the frog's blood-corpuscle, after the application of a 
gentle heat, are shown; a and h, filaments in active vibration. 
The author considers that these changes in form could not 
occur if there was an envelope or cell-wall to the red blood- 
corpuscle. 
Eig. 4 represents some of the appearances observed in the corpuscles 
of Guinea-pig's blood within an hour after its removal from the body. Many 
of the corpuscles were folded so as to appear as if they were sacs or enve- 
lopes ; but the same appearances were produced when globules of strong 
syrup were suspended in strong glycerine. Several corpuscles were seen 
gradually to assume the crystalline form, but some retained their ordinary 
circular character, as shown in the upper part of the figure ; at a two young 
corpuscles gradually undergoing conversion into red corpuscles are repre- 
sented. This figure is magnified 1800 diameters. 
After the application of a gentle heat, many of the blood-corpuscles of the 
Guinea-pig became disintegrated, as shown in fig. 5 ; and after the lapse of a 
short time each separate particle become a minute crystal. In other parts 
several corpuscles coalesced to form a compound mass of red viscid matter, as 
shown in fig. 6, which also gradually crystallized. 
Eig. 7. represents fully formed tetrahedral crystals, and blood-corpuscles in 
process of change into crystals, from Guinea-pig's blood — magnified 700. 
These facts seem to the author incompatible with the exist- 
ence of a cell-wall or envelope, and seem to show that the red 
blood-corpuscle is composed of viscid " colloid^^ matter, which, - 
by rest and slight concentration, becomes crystalline. 
Eig. 8 shows some very transparent blood-corpuscles in Guinea-pig's blood. 
These were not visible upon examination with a power of 700 diameters, and 
even with a power of 1800 diameters it is doubtful if they would have been 
observed, but for the circumstance that they were surrounded by ordinary 
red blood-corpuscles, as represented in the figure. The author regards these 
as very young and but yet colourless, red blood-corpuscles. Magnified 1800. 
