TRANSACTIONS OF THE PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 2{)b 



of Dr. Wilks, consists of an account of fatty deg:eneration of 

 the malpighian bodies of the kidney, all the other structures 

 of the gland, includiit(j the tubes, being free from that change. 

 The illustrations of this Paper, as well as the previous one, 

 are from original drawings by Dr. Wilks, and are very beau- 

 tiful ; but, in the one we are now considering, this usually ac- 

 curate observer has made a somewhat singular mistake in the 

 magnifying powers he has represented. The three figures 

 given in the Plate in question are said to represent different 

 portions of the gland, magnified respectively 6, 40, and 160 

 diameters. Now, between these numbers, there is a certain 

 proportion ; and we should expect to find the same proportion 

 in the structural elements, as represented in the several 

 figures ; but here we are disappointed. The first figure is 

 said to represent " a small portion of the kidney, as viewed 

 with a simple lens. Magnified 6 diameters." And this, from 

 the size of the opaque white malpighian bodies, is no doubt 

 pretty correct. The second figure of the same, "magnified 

 40 diameters," is also probably correct; and the two have, as 

 they ought, about the proportion of I to 7. But in the third 

 figure, " magnified 160 diameters," Dr. Wilks seems to have 

 lost sight of proportion altogether, for he has represented the 

 malpighian bodies in this figure, not four times the diameter 

 of the second, as we should have supposed, (40x4 = 160,) but 

 eight times. Supposing, however, tliat the two former figures 

 be correct, which we believe them to be, the third figure 

 should be defined as magnified 320 diameters. 



Among the most interesting histological specimens in this 

 volume, are some examples of osteoids — in and among fibrous 

 tissues of various organs. Dr. Kirk gives two interesting ex- 

 amples of formations of bone in eyes damaged and rendered 

 useless by long previous disease ; and the specimens have 

 been fairly described and illustrated. There are some points, 

 liowever, to which we must take exception. In the first 

 place, the description of the first figure, (PI. XIII., fig. 1,) 

 " showing the earthy matter exposited in the form of granules 

 in a fibrous stroma," involves an idea which we believe is not 

 a true expression of the calcification-process. We would sug- 

 gest, as more probable, that these little spherules may be of 

 the same nature as those described by Dr. Hyde Salter in the 

 fifth volume of the Society's Transactions, as occurring in an 

 osteoid in the pleura, consisting of minute isolated globules, 

 in which the earthy matter has impregnated the animal, like 

 the calcification-globules of dentine. 



In fig. 1 a, we certainly have failed to see the " crystalline " 

 appearance described by Dr. Kirk ; and we notice, moreover, 



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