G02 
DR. MARTIN BARRY ON THE CORPUSCLES OF THE BLOOD. 
. 28. “ Muscular fibre,” says Valentin, “ arises ## *out of the jelly-like formative mass 
the following manner : Long before separate muscular fibres are perceived, the 
globules of the primitive mass are seen arranged in longitudinal lines. ## *The granules 
[“globules”] now appear to approach one another, and in single places entirely — in 
others only on one side — to coalesce and unite into one transparent mass. By this 
means there arise threads, which in many places have a necklace-like appearance ; in 
others are less distinctly notched, and often notched only on one side, the other side 
being straighter. Subsequently the thread loses every trace of granule [“ globule”] 
or division, and becomes uniformly transparent, defined, and cylindrical. ***Thus the 
muscular fibre continues when normal until about the period of the sixth month [of 
the foetus], except that its substance becomes somewhat more opake and its cohesion 
closer. In the sixth month I have recently discerned on these fibres the first traces 
of transverse strise, and hence (having now at command one of the best instruments 
of Plossl) must retract the statement I formerly made, that these transverse strise are 
entirely absent in the embryo. These transverse strise however, during the whole of 
foetal life are situated further apart, and discernible only with a clear light and high 
magnifying power.* ## From the period at which the muscular threads become transpa- 
rent and uniform, there accumulate between them masses of round or roundish glo- 
bules, which are somewhat larger than the blood-corpuscles — viz. 0-00040/ Paris line. 
#«The muscular fibres are formed first, and subsequently their fibrillse [contained 
within the fibres] . ## *The younger the embryo is, the coarser are the elementary parts 
[of muscle] * t# We have above remarked that from the period at which the muscular 
fibre becomes uniform and transparent, globules accumulate in large number. Sub- 
sequently they diminish, and with the jelly-like mass — which holds them together — 
enter into the formation of the mucous tissue. This however unites — not the fibrillse 
but — the fibres'!-.” 
29. More recently, and with reference to the doctrine of “ cells,” the same physio- 
logist has communicated his views in the following words: “As soon as these 
[muscular fibres] appear in the fibrous form, there are seen in them round, very pale 
nuclei, which lie near together. From this it may be inferred, that here the cells 
arrange themselves likewise longitudinally, but coalesce immediately with one another 
without being drawn out into fibrillse. This conjecture is confirmed by the fact that 
such an embryonic muscular fibre presents itself perfectly pectinate, as a conferva- 
fibril with a nucleus in each cell. This pectinate object, however, I have not hitherto 
so observed, as to have convinced myself of its complete natural conformity. There 
usually occur two circumstances which either call it forth or make it more distinct: 
1. There follow the regular indentations of the muscular fibres, so that between two 
there always lies a regular nucleus. 2. On the transverse lines, which call forth 
the pectinate divisions, there lie very minute molecules with opake contours and a 
t Entwickelungsgeschichte des Menschen mit vergleichender Riicksicht der Entwickelung der Saugethiere 
und Vogel, 1835, pp. 267. 268. 
