( 293 ) 

 REVIEWS. 



Transactions of the Pathological Society, Vol. VI. 



The volume of the Transactions of the Pathological Society 

 for the present year has been punctually delivered to its 

 members. It possesses the high qualities which we have had 

 occasion to praise in its predecessors, and, to us, it has the 

 additional interest in being another example of the increased 

 appreciation of the microscope in the prosecution of patho- 

 logical investigations. 



In the present volume the great majority of the illustrations 

 are of pathological histology, and there is scarcely a single 

 specimen referred to in which the microscopical appearances 

 are not recorded ; this work, therefore, falls naturally enough 

 within our limits to review ; and while, as we have already 

 said, there is much to admire, and much to praise, in these 

 published details of a year's accumulated labours of the Pa- 

 thological Society, we think, in this Journal, we may very 

 properly point out and criticise those shortcomings and those 

 errors which here and there exist, and which in one or two 

 instances form unsightly blots on the pages of a beautiful 

 volume. We must, however, assure those whose productions 

 are unfavourably noticed, that they are criticised in no un- 

 friendly spirit, but rather to enforce a more scrupulous caution 

 for the future ; and, we believe, we may safely add, that sub- 

 sequent volumes of the Pathological Transactions Avill not 

 suffer by the adoption of our suggestions. 



Among the list of contributors to the present volume we 

 find a goodly array of names, principally of young, earnest, 

 working men ; and among the specimens exhibited are many 

 of rare interest. 



Of the 161 original communications, and the 18 reports 

 on specimens by referees, we will select a few of the more 

 interesting ; we cannot, however, help expressing our regret, 

 that the reports of the referees bear so small a numerical pro- 

 portion to the original communications ; for we have always 

 considered that the plan adopted by the Pathological Society, 

 of referring all doubtful specimens and disputed points to the 

 scrutiny of a committee of two or more gentlemen, who have 

 paid particular attention to subjects similar to, or identical 

 with that in dispute, has constituted one of its best charac- 

 teristics, and has given peculiar weight and value to statements 

 which have emanated from its members. In the present 



VOL. IV. X 



