2 
Journal of the 
the reader to draw his own conclusions, and to dispel by counter 
observations any error I may have advanced. 
(3.) The blood is universally admitted to consist of a fluid or 
plasma, in which certain corpuscles varying as to size and form 
in different animals, are seen to exist. 
The mammalian blood generally, and the blood of the human 
species, is known to be composed of two principal corpuscular 
forms, i.e., a white and a red corpuscle. 
The red corpuscles of the human blood, and most of the 
mammalia, are decidedly globular or spherical in form, and only 
bi-concave or discoid when they have passed out of the circulation; 
hence to describe them as bi-concave is incorrect and misleading 
in various directions. 
The other element of the blood, which is known as the white 
corpuscle, appears as a cell with a nucleus and a contained fluid. 
This corpuscle, I believe, is in part the incipient or early form of 
the red corpuscle, which, when fully developed, may be regarded 
as possessing a double covering to a contained amorphous mass, 
which then possesses the property of passing out of the quasi cell 
covering, exhibiting this last as an empty cell. 
Lastly, a recognisable amount of change can bo distinctly made 
out as occurring in these corpuscles when subjected to the action 
of certain chemicals; and reasoning on these changes, we may be 
led by induction to apprehend the nature of some morbid changes 
occurring in the tissues. 
There are then three important points to which I desire to 
direct attention and investigation, and in so doing, I do not 
intend it to be understood that any of these views, except the 
last, are quite new ; only that the two prior positions have been 
speculatively advanced by some and rejected by others, but which, 
I believe, can be subjected to proof or demonstration of some 
kind ; and this is a part purpose of this communication. 
(4.) Thus I would put the matter briefly— 
(a.) The red corpuscle is a spherical body. 
(b.) The white corpuscle is a nucleated cell. 
(c.) That changes produced in these two organisms by 
means of chemical substances, tend to show that the 
white passes to the condition of the red corpuscle or 
more perfect form. 
