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On the Power of the Periosteum to form New Bone. By James Syme, Esq., 

 Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh. 



Read 6th March 1837. 



The object of the following paper is to put at rest a question which has been 

 long agitated in Surgical Pathology, and which is intimately connected with some 

 important points of Practical Surgery. An apology may seem due to the Society 

 for bringing under its consideration a subject, which, though not exclusively pro- 

 fessional, is still little studied except by those physiologists whose views are di- 

 rected to sm-gery ; but as the inquiry into which I propose to enter is neither long 

 nor tedious, while it is quite intelligible without any previous knowledge of its 

 details, I trust the patience of the members will not be exhausted ; and if the 

 question shall, as I hope, be decided to the conviction of those members who are 

 conversant with sm-gical discussions, the prevailing diversity of sentiment rela- 

 tive to the point at issue will be more effectually composed than if I attempted 

 to combat it through any other channel. 



The question which I propose to consider is, " Whether the Periosteum, or 

 membrane that covers the smface of the bones, possesses the power of forming 

 new osseous substance independently of any assistance from the bone itself?" 



This property was first attributed to the periosteum by Duhamel, just 100 

 years ago. Having been engaged in the study of vegetable physiology, and more 

 particularly the formation of wood, he imagined that there might be an analogy 

 between the inner layer of the bark and the periosteum, and that as the former 

 hardens in successive layers so as to constitute the wood, the latter might suffer 

 a corresponding conversion into bone. He supported this opinion by the following 

 arguments : 1. That when bones are burned in the fire or exposed to the weather, 

 they separate into a number of thin plates. 2. That in consequence of disease 

 arising from external violence, the bones frequently throw off thin scales, or exfo- 

 liations as they are called. 3. That when animals are fed alternately with mad- 

 der and without it, then* bones exhibit alternate layers of a red and white colour ; 

 and, 4. That when bones are fractured, they unite by means of an osseous capsule 

 formed externally to, and embracing the broken extremities, just as the branch of 

 a tree acquires strength after being grafted, or simply broken across. 



This theory of Duhamel was strenuously opposed by Haller, who urged, as 

 altogether inconsistent with it, the mode in which bones are originally formed. 



