483 



" These phenomena, no doubt, much complicate the gene- 

 ral process ; but yet we can follow out the morphic changes of 

 the original tissues in their passage downwards to decay and 

 dissolution, as the practised eye soon learns to detect them, and 

 by preparatory study we are enabled to recognise all forms of 

 extraneous origin. For a long period the original structures 

 retain distinctive characteristics, a circumstance of practical 

 importance, as I have before observed. In some tissues the 

 series of changes is very simple, and may be readily followed 

 throughout : we have an example in adipose tissue, which may 

 be detailed by Avay of illustration. 



"Adipose Tissue. — This substance is capable of being re- 

 cognised by the microscope after a very long time, and when 

 to the naked sight it has not only lost all its usual physical 

 characters, but has assumed a charred and blackened appear- 

 ance. I have in my possession a specimen of fatty tissue on a 

 glass side, and uncovered, for more than a year and a half, and 

 yet it shows the cellular structure perfectly. In a specimen 

 almost quite black, taken from textures after seven months' 

 putrefaction, and wholly undistinguishable by ordinary phy- 

 sical examination, I have recognised distinctly several groups 

 of fat cells. These cells had all undergone a certain amount of 

 change, for instead of being clear and transparent, they pre- 

 sented finely granular contents, with occasionally a few larger 

 corpuscles. This granular infiltration appears to me the first 

 change which takes place in the fat cell, and I consider it to 

 be owing to the union of its originally homogeneous oily con- 

 tents with some form of albuminous compound liberated in 

 the histolysis of surrounding tissues, and which has entered 

 the cell-wall by endosmose. In other fat cells a still further 

 change is indicated, their interior being filled with long deli- 

 cate crystals, arranged in stellate masses, the centre of the 

 stella corresponding nearly with the centre of the cell, the cell 

 wall being still distinctly visible ; in other instances this mem- 

 brane appears to have given way, and the masses of crystals 



