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SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
cularly with them ; as a matter of fact, it appears to be an essential 
factor in a type of division which is widespread among the tissues of 
both Vertebrates and Invertebrates. 
Wandering (Migrating) Cells of the Frog.*— Messrs. A. A. Kan- 
thack and W. B. Hardy have investigated the structure and functions of 
the wandering cells of the Frog, a term they prefer to “ leucocyte ” or 
“ white corpuscle,” since it is more inclusive. They find that the histo- 
logy of the wandering cells of the Frog is almost identical with that 
of the same cells in Astacus. The normal forms are eosinophile, hyaline, 
and basophile cells ; the abnormal giant-cells formed by fusion of hyaline 
cells, nucleated cells budded off from the eosinophile or the hyaline cells, 
and non-nucleated bodies produced by the breaking up of red corpuscles. 
They have been able to observe the conflict between cells and bacilli for 
continuous periods of 8 to 9 hours, the same cells and bacilli having 
been watched for the whole period. 
An account is given of the phenomena observed when lymph is 
treated with anthrax bacilli. The eosinophile cells are strongly 
attracted to the anthrax ; they apply themselves to the chains of bacilli, 
and when contact is absolutely or nearly effected, their cell-substance is 
profoundly stimulated, and exhibits quick, streaming movements; the 
eosinophile spherules are next discharged. If these cells are present in 
sufficient numbers to match the anthrax they bud off daughter- cells ; 
these creep a short way from the point of conflict and develope spherules 
at one end. Later on, they seek the same or another focus of con- 
flict. In time an eosinophile plasmodium is formed, but whether these 
cells or the bacilli win the fight, depends largely on their relative 
numbers. The bacillus is only injured near the eosinophile cell, and 
there the contents become rapidly curdled and irregular in appearance. 
If the bacillary chains are in great number the eosinophile cell will 
extend itself to most attenuated lengths in order to be able to attack as 
great a length of chain as possible. Even when the chain is not directly 
attacked the near presence of eosinophile cells greatly arrests its 
development. 
If the cells win they early recharge themselves with spherules, but 
they are no longer eosinophile — they are amphophile, or stain rather 
more readily with methylene-blue than with eosine. Up to this point 
the hyaline cells, or phagocytes, remain quiescent, and in the neigh- 
bourhood of a healthy bacillus they appear to be paralysed. 
Later on, however, these hyaline cells increase in number, approach 
and fuse with the eosinophile cell-masses surrounding a bacillus ; the 
object of the hyaline cells is to draw the elongated mass into a ball. 
Still later, the cells of the mass commence to regain their individuality, 
and slowly separate. When individual cells are again to be seen, the 
mass is found to consist of a central giant hyaline plasmodium, formed 
by the very complete f ision of the hyaline cells, and enclosed by a crust 
of eosinophile cells. Yet still later the mass separates into the original 
four hyaline cells. 
Whilst these changes are in progress the rose-colouring cells are 
increasing in size and number ; their function appears to be the removal 
* Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond., lii. (1893) pp. 267-73. 
