472 
ME. a. V. ELLiS OX THE XATUEE OF THE 
the muscular fibre-cells of Professor Kollikek. When a fibre is contracted, it is like a 
string of beads in its outline. 
Variations in the characters above given may be produced by the manipulation 
employed in the preparation of the microscopic object: thus if the piece of glass 
covering the object is pressed down too much, the fibres will be easily flattened in con- 
sequence of their great softness. Should a fibre be broken across, it may be bent or 
twisted, or may differ in width at intervals, narrow wa\7 parts alternating with larger; 
or it may be shortened with slightly waved edges and transverse darkened lines , and it^ 
free end or ends may be pointed and round, or flattened and irregular like the end of a 
broken piece of string. 
The fibres vary greatly in diameter in the two kinds of musculai substance. 
In the voluntary orbicularis oris muscle of the human body, the smallest fibres measuie 
_^_];cl, and the largest y^of^h of an inch across; and three other sizes can be recogmzed 
between those extremes. 
In the involuntary fibres of the bladder the smallest measui’e yb^oof^’ largest 
1 th of an inch in diameter, whilst the average width is y^b^th of an inch. Mo5>t 
3 5 U U 
preservative fluids diminish the width of the fibres. 
6'orpMSC^es.— Elongated granular bodies exist in all muscular tissue ; and in the invo- 
luntary muscle, as in the bladder for instance, they have been described by Professor 
Kollikee as the nuclei (Stabchenformige Kerne) of his so-called muscidar fibre- 
cells*. 
On the addition of acetic acid to voluntary muscle, two kmds of corpuscles, the one 
oval, the other fusiform, come into sight f. The oval kind, fewest in number, are ^ei> 
pale, with fine granular contents : they are situate within the sarcolemma of the fibres, 
and flow therefrom with the disintegrated mass on the action of caustic potass ; the} 
measure about ™ length, and y^eth in breadth. The^ fusitorm 
bodies are commonly pointed at each end, and have a yellowish-green colour, Mith coarse 
granular contents and a very dark outline, ivhilst from one or both points a Ime ot fine 
granules extends for a short distance. In width they vary from ao.ooofli to riToootli of 
an inch, and in length from to y^th of an inch. They have a linear aiiange- 
ment along the fibres, and are at variable distances fi-oin each other. Oftentimes they 
are twisted or subdivided. 
Usually only one kind of corpuscle, that corresponding with the fusiform of the volun- 
tary muscle, can be recognized in the bladder ; but occasionally others, ansu ering to the 
oval form above described both in their characters and position, ivill be observed. 
The fusiform corpuscles of the muscular substance of the bladder (the rod-shaped 
* “ Zweitens besizt jede Faserzelle olme irgend eiue Ausuahme eiiieu blasseu, in vielen Fallen erst nacK 
Essigsaurezusatz sicbtbaren oder wenigstens dentlicher bervortretenden, 'seltener durcli die Saure erblas- 
senden Kern, desaen Grdsse und Gestalt sehr eigenthuinlicb und bezeielinend sind.” Zeitscbritt fiir is- 
senschaftliche Zoologie, 1848. 
t Keference was made to these in my former paper to the Eoyal Society. 
