Journal of Applied Microscopy. 453 



protoplasm, and an outer layer made up of a recticulum of thread or cilia-like 

 processes. Multiplication of the nucleus takes place by direct division, and is 

 to be considered as a retrograde process. The giant cells take no part in the 

 formation of blood cells. That the giant cells occasionally contain a poly- 

 morphonuclear leucocyte, indicates a phagocytic action on the part of the giant 

 cell, and not an invasion of degenerating giant cells by leucocytes (Heidenhain's 

 theory). 



In experimentation on animals it was found that this phagocytic property of 

 the giant cells was increased by suppuration, inanition, exhausting hemorrhages, 

 and by intravenous injections of lecithin, milk and filtered cultures of the pneu- 

 mococcus, and staphylococcus pyogenes aureus. 



Foa believes that the giant cells are formed from the true marrow cells, 

 which have much protoplasm, and a single large vesicular nucleus, with deep 

 staining border in which is a prominent nucleolus. In these cells he has often 

 observed various grades of nuclear division. The article is illustrated by two 

 plates, showing thirteen figures. r. m. p. 



J. K. M. Knox, Jr. Supra-arterial Epicardial These fibroid nodules have been 

 Fibroid Nodules. Jour. Exper. Med. 4: observed by Knox in five cases. 



No. 2. ■' 



Although they are not uncommonly 

 met with, they apparently have not hitherto been fully described. They 

 occur in the epicardium over the coronary arteries and their branches, but are 

 entirely outside the adventitia. They ai-e described as small greyish-white 

 semi-translucent or opaque tubercle-like bodies varying slightly in size. Histolo- 

 gically they are composed of dense fibrous sclerotic tissue, poor in cells. In the 

 earlier stages of their development they contain fairly numerous lymphoid cells 

 and fibroblasts. In the arterial wall beneath the nodule the muscular coat is 

 often degenerated and thinned. The elastic coat is also much altered. This 

 weakening of the wall would tend to allow a bulging of the artery if there were 

 not some restraint. The formation of the dense fibroid nodule in the epicardium, 

 the writer believes, offers this restraint. r. m. p. 



Hoen, A. G. On a Form of Degeneration of Normal uvulae were examined and com- 

 Striatea Muscle Met ^vith in the Uvula. ^^ with those which had relaxed 



Jour. Exp. Med. 3: 449-570, 2 pis., 1898. ^ 



and elongated. Two of these were from 



patients who were habitual smokers. There was marked proliferation and 

 polymorphism of the nuclei, as is usual in muscular degeneration. The nuclei 

 are somewhat enlarged, but nearly normal in shape unless they become crowded. 

 They may assume a great variety of forms. Some are spool-shaped, some are 

 crescentic, and some with pointed ends are serrated, with the serrations corres- 

 ponding to the transverse striae of the fiber. Many have their long axes lying 

 transversely to the fiber, and most are surrounded with a vesicle of homo- 

 geneous material which has a delicate limiting membrane, and cannot be stained. 

 As the fiber degenerates pigment is deposited in and around the nucleus. Dur- 

 ing the pigmentary stage the nuclei tend to fragment, and become irregular in 

 outline, triangular, knobbed, and honeycombed. 



The muscle fibers thicken, measuring from .035 to .05 mm. as compared with 



