Transactions . ly noticed, when the highertemperatures have been applied, that the red cor-puscles adhere to the tissue as well as the colourlessones; and this, in my opinion, is one of the charac- * Experimental Researches, loc. tit. 268 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES teristics distinguishing the normal nutritive process,or an accelerated nutrition, from inflammation. I have in the former series of these Researchesremarked that the red blood-cells have a peculiarand very characteristic disposition to cohere, and tolose their figure by the slightest lateral pressure,but that the colourless ones have
Transactions . ly noticed, when the highertemperatures have been applied, that the red cor-puscles adhere to the tissue as well as the colourlessones; and this, in my opinion, is one of the charac- * Experimental Researches, loc. tit. 268 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES teristics distinguishing the normal nutritive process,or an accelerated nutrition, from inflammation. I have in the former series of these Researchesremarked that the red blood-cells have a peculiarand very characteristic disposition to cohere, and tolose their figure by the slightest lateral pressure,but that the colourless ones have no such dispositionto cohere ; they stand alone and preserve their cir-cular form against pressure. Hence we may readilyestimate the relative numbers of the firm colourlesscorpuscles ; they are generally seen in the spacesbetween, and along the margins of the lines formedby the cohering red cells, as shown in the subjoinedfigure, which represents the appearance of a dropof blood drawn from a pimple on the In blood drawn from any inflamed surface, ortaken from the skin of a patient in scarlet fever,these firm colourless cells are equally numerousand conspicuous. ON NUTRITION. 269 Now it may be necessary, since the colourlesscorpuscles are supposed to be such importantagents in the nutrition of the structures, and inthe elaboration of the secretions, to offer someexplanation why, in this experiment, they are notseen in greater numbers, in a proportion morenearly equalling that of the red corpuscles. This is, I think, accounted for by their strong-disposition to adhere to the tissue, so that they arenot disposed to flow out when a puncture is made ;whereas the red-cells, from the readiness and ra-pidity of their motion, flow out immediately, andin preference. Hence, the number of colourlesscorpuscles seen is no valid criterion whereby tojudge of their actual amount, though an increaseof this amount may be indicated by the greaternumbers observed in blood drawn from one spot
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