484 



then lie free on the field. Numerous single crystals, appa- 

 rently liberated from such masses, may be observed floating 

 about. These I regard as crystals of the fatty acids, and as 

 forming the last morphic stage of the Histolytic process in the 

 adipose tissue; the further dilysis of the elements of the crys- 

 tals only awaits the operation of the necessary chemical and 

 physical forces, which we may conceive to be called into play 

 in a variety of ways. This particular observation of the order 

 of morphic changes, as well as others which I have made, is 

 highly important, as it shows the possibility of Histolysis or 

 morphic dissolution being brought about without the agency 

 of vegetable or animalcule life, thus proving, as I conceive, the 

 independence of the series of changes, and its claims to be con- 

 sidered as a distinct substantive process, taking place in obe- 

 dience to certain physical laws, and not effected by vegetable 

 and animalcule organisms, the development of which I regard 

 as only a subjective, non-essential phenomenon. 



" It is my intention to follow out the histolytic changes as 

 far as I shall be able in the several- organs, tissues, and fluids, 

 and I am now engaged with further inquiries on the subject. 

 I may remark that the observation of the several phases of 

 the process presents considerable difficulties, as almost every 

 tissue has certain histolytic peculiarities, and the changes 

 do not progress uniformly in all ; thus, in a specimen of cere- 

 bral substance of the same date as the structures already no- 

 ticed, I find that the changes have proceeded to such an ex- 

 tent that without preparatory studies of the phenomena pre- 

 sented in this substance, at earlier periods in the process of its 

 disintegration the appearances are quite unintelligible. 1 will 

 only further add, that I have noticed very marked and charac- 

 teristic differences in the smells emitted by different tissues un- 

 dergoing putrefaction. I have already met with four very 

 distinct and characteristic varieties of smells, and it is highly 

 probable that this observation may be utilized." 



