44 MICROSCOPICAL DIAGNOSIS. 



be examined either fresh or after being treated with Miiller's 

 fluid or chromic acid. When the fat is confined to the con- 

 nective tissue between the muscle fibres as in obesity, nothing 

 serious can result from it, unless in some particular organs when 

 it may cause a dilatation and weakening from pressure. A speci- 

 men of fatty infiltration is seen at figure 12. 



When the fat molecules are arranged in rows correspond- 

 ing to the longitudinal striae, they usually increase in number 

 until all the contractile substance disappears and the muscle 

 fibre becomes transformed into a row of fat cells, the fatty de- 

 generation causing a complete wasting of the muscle. Non- 

 striated muscle cells undergoing this fatty metamorphosis are 

 found in the uterus a few weeks after delivery, when in order 

 for this organ to become reduced to its previous size many of 

 the cells become thus broken down and carried out of the 

 body. 



