455 



including one or more smaller ones : these several bodies were 

 evidently the result of a process of secondary growth, taking- 

 place while the general process of dissolution was going on 

 around, and constituting a kind of generation in death which 

 may be termed thanato-genesis ; in addition, there were nu- 

 merous prisms and needles of haamatine, and large irregular 

 haematine masses. 



6. Blood of Salmon. — Of same date as last, and presenting 

 nearly the same appearances ; the granular bodies were, how- 

 ever, much larger; there existed also very large cells, including 

 vesicles, and masses of granular base. Cells, including stellate 

 crystals, were also visible. I am disposed to think that these 

 forms resulted from the greater quantity of oil in the blood 

 of fish, which, with the albuminous element, gave abundant 

 means for these formations. 



7. Histolytic Changes in Muscle. — The specimens examined 

 had undergone the process of putrefaction for a considerable 

 time ; yet, by the aid of the microscope, the nature of the 

 structures admitted of demonstration in the most clear and 

 positive manner, though, I am satisfied, that by the unaided 

 sight no amount of careful study would have sufficed for their 

 recognition and identification. Under a power of 900 D., the 

 following appearances were presented : — A semi-fluid granular 

 mass, tinged of a light brown colour, in which granules, granu- 

 lar corpuscles, and spherules, were visible; here and there lay 

 larger and smaller masses of elementary fibres, many of which 

 retained, either in whole or part, their characteristic striae, 

 but presented internally more or less change. 



There were seen several examples of elementary fibres. 

 On more minutely examining these elementary fibres, it was 

 found that some presented the transverse striation complete and 

 perfect for a certain portion of their length ; in others, the 

 lines ceased at about half the transverse diameter ; in other 

 portions the edges only indicated the commencement of the 

 stria?, which, however, were very clearly and well defined ; 

 vol. v. 2 x 



