Abstract
The phenomenon here described has been observed during the study of the cataphoresis of red cells and rouleaux in gelatin-serum sols and gels. The method of preparation of the suspension has been described elsewhere. 1
The red cells of the horse, since they do not become coated with proteins in the manner of quartz particles when suspended in a soft gelatin-serum (2 to 3% gelatin) gel, have the remarkable property of migrating through a protein sol or gel. If cylindroids, consisting of red cells in rouleaux formation, are moved back and forth through such a sol or gel, by virtue of their cataphoretic mobility, no orientation of these cylindroid bodies occurs during the cataphoretic migration.
At the same time the gelatin and serum protein micellae are also in movement, as well as the liquid in the cataphoresis cell. 2 As gelation proceeds, the speed of the cylindroid bodies becomes much slower. In spite of the fact that the cylindroids have been moved back and forth in the cell over a considerable period, i. e., 10 minutes, and even though they are apparently subjected to a laminary liquid stream, the orientation of the cylindroids is still at random with a tendency, however, to be placed in planes parallel to the horizontal plane of the cataphoresis cell. The current is now discontinued and gelation is permitted to proceed. After a considerable time interval (about 24 hours) during which the a stiff gel is formed, it is found that the cylindroid particles have been oriented so that their lengthwise axes are parallel to the lines of the current flow.∗ It is to be emphasized that the orientation takes place after the electric current has ceased to flow.
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