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delicate membrane, which appears to be an elementary struc- 
ture, and not to be composed of areolar tissue ; the origin of this 
membrane is not at all clear, although we may imagine various 
ways of reconciling it with the formative process of cells.” 
Various cell walls are examples of hyaline membrane. 
It is further to be remarked, that crystalline forms, whether 
organic or inorganic, haye no place in this arrangement. 
Several instances having come under my notice in which 
structures submitted to microscopic examination appeared 
to have undergone considerable alteration, by reason of a 
more or less advanced condition of decomposition, I was led to 
institute a series of observations for the purpose of discovering 
the order (if any) of the morphic changes which take place in 
the passage of organized bodies through the several stages of 
putrefaction to their final dissolution and decay, until they re- 
turn, ‘ashes to ashes,” and ‘dust to dust.” As I believe 
that the researches I have already made warrant me in stating 
that a certain order of morphic changes is brought about, I 
have introduced the term Hisrotysts, to designate the morphic 
changes of putrefying tissues, the use of a single word being 
convenient for the purposes of description and reference. 
Not only will the study of Histolysis be found interesting 
in itself, as a portion of scientific inquiry, presenting, as it 
does, several beautiful and unexpected phenomena; but, 
moreover, the knowledge thereby acquired admits of several 
valuable and practical applications. Thus, it affords most 
favourable opportunities for the study of the intimate struc- 
ture of complicated normal textures, which are thus, as it were, 
unfolded to our view by a process of natural dissection, in 
-which the least possible violence is done to the most delicate 
parts. Furthermore, as I have already stated, I believe it fur- 
nishes us with means of elucidating some of the early and ob- 
scure phases of Histogenesis. Lastly, I feel confident that 
when the histolytic process will have been carefully and suc- 
cessfully studlied in the chief tissues, fluids, and organs, the 
