Fig. 3.
Nucleoli in larger lymphocytes.
(From a photograph of a preparation from chronic lymphatic leukæmia.)
To face page 74
The nucleus stains very deeply with all dyes; the protoplasm possesses a strong attraction for most acid stains, and is unmistakeably characterised by the presence of a dense neutrophil granulation. The reaction of the protoplasm is alkaline, to a less degree however than in the lymphocytes. No free glycogen is contained in the polynuclear cells as a rule; nevertheless in certain diseases cells are always found which give a marked iodine reaction. In this manner the appearance of cells containing glycogen in diabetes was first proved. (Ehrlich, Gabritschewsky, Livierato.) The iodine reaction in the white blood corpuscles is also seen in severe contusions and fractures, in pneumonias, in rapidly progressing phlegmata from streptococcus and staphylococcus, after protracted narcosis (Goldberger and Weiss).
Ehrlich explains the appearance of glycogen as follows. The glycogen is not present in the cell as such, but in the form of a compound, which does not stain with iodine. This compound readily splits off glycogen, which then gives the iodine reaction[12].
We cannot regard the perinuclear green granules, described by Neusser in the polynuclear cells, as pre-existing. (See p. 42.)
The number of polynuclear leucocytes in the blood of the healthy adult amounts to about 70-72%, of the total white corpuscles. (Einhorn.)[13]
5. The eosinophil cells. These are characterised by a coarse, round granulation, staining deeply with acid dyes, and similar in other respects to the polynuclear neutrophils. With faint staining, a thin peripheral layer of the eosinophil granule is seen more deeply stained than the interior. The nucleus as a rule is not so deeply stained as in the polynuclear neutrophil, but otherwise in its general shape is completely similar. Both forms have in common a considerable contractility, which renders possible their emigration from the vessels, and their appearance in exudations and in pus. The size of the eosinophils frequently exceeds that of the neutrophils. Their number is normally about 2-4% of the white cells.
6. The mast cells. These are present, though very sparingly, in every normal blood; 0.5% is their maximum number in health.
Their intensely basophil granulation, of very irregular size and unequal distribution, must specially be mentioned. The granulation possesses the further peculiarity, in that with the majority of basic dyes it stains, not in the pure colour of the dye, but metachromatically—most deeply with thionin. As Dr Morgenroth found, the deviation from the colour of the dye is still more marked with Kresyl-violet-R (Mülheim manufactory), when the granules stain almost a pure brown.