408 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
substance was not fatty, and he did not know which coronary artery 
was plugged. The crystals did not polarize. 
Blood Crystals from Rat, exhibited by Dr. Pritchard, were ob- 
tained after killing the animal with ether: a drop of the blood with 
water is placed in aglass cup and covered at once; on coagulation, 
the crystals are seen in the spaces between the fibrin. If cemented 
thus they keep a long time, being in vacuo. 
Myxoma, a specimen exhibited by the President in which the 
connecting filaments were apparently tubular and not merely as 
often described, flat or thread-like processes. The preparation was 
in glycerine, but the same appearance was seen when fresh. The 
specimen is figured in ‘Trans. Path. Soc.,’ vol. xx, p. 344, and in 
Jones and Sieveking’s ‘ Pathological Anatomy,’ 2nd ed., page 188. 
Friday, May 21st, 1875. 
Dr. J. F. Payne, President, in the Chair. 
Fatiy Degeneration of Muscle.—Notes on this subject were read 
by Dr. Kesteven. He observed that the expression “ fatty 
degeneration” as usually employed was a misnomer ; that the 
change is one in which as a matter of fact fat plays no part. at all. 
Instead of fatty matter the degenerated muscles exhibit a disin- 
tegration of the contents of the muscle fibrils, obliterating their 
striation. Along the centre of these are to be seen dark brown 
or black granules of a pigmentary character, not removable b 
ether or alkalies. The change begins and ends in the fibrils, 
and is very distinct from the fatty condition, in which the fibrils, 
retaining their striation, are separated by deposition of adpoise 
tissue. The latter form of disease is more or less associated with 
changes in the nervous centres, while in the former it is not so. 
Preparations and illustrative drawings were exhibited by the 
author of muscular atrophy, pseudo-muscular hypertrophy ; 
rupture of the left ventricle ; infantile paralysis, and the so-called 
fatty degeneration. 
The President and several of the members took part in the 
discussion that followed. 
Myelitis.—A paper on this subject by Mr. D. J. Hamilton 
was read by the President, which is printed entire at page 335 
of this number of the ‘Quarterly Journal of Microscopical 
Science.’ 
After a brief discussion on the paper Mr. Groves described 
and exhibited Crouch’s improved fine adjustment for microscope 
stands made on the Continental model, in which great stability 
was combined with easy and regular motion, the points of friction 
being reduced toa minimum. He also described a centering sub- 
stage arrangement for the same stand. 
