26 DAVIES^ ON POLARIZED LIOHT. 



of the skin, which extend in all directions^ the arrangement 

 is stellate,, -while in tendon, which extends chiefly in two 

 directions, it is linear. In voluntary muscles of the system 

 of vertebrate animals generally (with some exceptions) the 

 masses of germinal matter are separate, while in the muscular 

 fibre of the heart they are connected, forming lines which 

 occupy the centre of the fibre ; and I might bring forward 

 many other facts which receive something like an explanation 

 according to the ^dew I have proposed, but which cannot be 

 accounted for on the other theory. It is very hard to believe 

 that difierent forms of cartilage are developed and nourished 

 in a totally difierent manner. This question, however, 

 requires further investigation. 



{To be continued.) 



Polarized Light as a Recreation and Study. 

 By Thomas Davtes, Esq. 



Every man is subject to a certain amount of influence 

 from his fellow-men. Perhaps, in fashions of dress, this 

 power displays itself most strongly, yet it is by no means 

 confined to outward show ; even in science it is as plainly 

 developed, and, during one age, some branch is eagerly pur- 

 sued, which is treated with apparent indiflerence in the 

 next. In some degree this kind of fashion influences even 

 the microscopist. At the present time the Diatomacea3 

 seem to be the predominant subject of inquiry, to the partial 

 neglect of some of the many others which our improved in- 

 struments ofler us. One branch in particular seems to mc 

 to suff"er (at least in some degree) from this fashion ; that is. 

 Polarized Light in its causes and effects. Chemically 

 this study will one day, most likely, assume an interest and 

 importance of which we can now have no idea. But there is 

 a certain class of men to whom science seems forbidden 

 fruit — men who have not courage to begin a systematic 

 study of any kind, and yet who would be drawn gradually by 

 any pleasant occupation from amusement into deeper in- 

 quiry that would at length, albeit imperceptibly, take pos- 

 session of them ; and from these very men might rise num- 

 bers to whom science woidd be indebted. What could be 

 so likely to eflect this as polarized light and the microscope ? 



