37 
The male gamete (<?). (i) The chromatin is 
more voluminous than in the female, it is of a looser 
texture ; that of the $ being compact is centrally 
placed or extends in a broad band across the cell. 
(2) It stains a characteristic greyish-green or greyish- 
red colour with Romanowsky, has little blue, so that 
the pigment is clearly seen, yellowish-brown in colour, 
while the female stains a deep blue, more deeply than 
the schizonts (i.e., asexual forms) (Fig. 10). 
3. Quartan .—Gametes are often very rare, 
presumably because the asexual fever stages may 
proceed with a clockwork regularity for months at a 
time. The $ has much voluminous chromatin, and 
the protoplasm stains light blue. The $ has a small 
amount of compact chromatin and stains deep blue. 
Appearances in Fresh Specimens 
N.B.—It is impossible to detect young parasites unless the films 
are thin and uniformly spread with the cells lying side by side (Fig. 11). 
If the cells overlap or are deformed in any way it is waste of time 
searching for young rings. In a properly spread specimen the red 
cells appear as uniform straw-coloured discs with a central paler area. 
1. Young Parasites .—The most characteristic 
features which distinguish parasites from other 
appearances in the red cell are ( a ) the characteristic 
opaque white look, like that of a white cloud, the 
definite contour, and the fact that the central portion 
of the parasite is of the same colour as the red 
cell which is in fact seen through its substance. 
The ring has often a thickening at one point, giving 
the ‘ signet ring ’ appearance. (b) On watching 
such a ring from time to time it is seen to have 
definitely altered its shape. (c) Pigment, perhaps 
only a grain or two may be seen, but in malignant 
