1907.] Fatty Degeneration of the Blood. 431 



placed straight from the formol chamber into the Scharlach solution, and after 

 24 or 48 hours withdrawn, washed for a few seconds in 75-per-cent. alcohol, 

 then in distilled water, and after this stained in a bath of haemalum for 

 three minutes ; this was followed by washing in distilled water, and then in 

 tap water, the film being finally protected with a long cover glass after the 

 application of Farrant's medium. The cover glasses were prepared in a similar 

 manner. 



Our observations were commenced in April, 1906, and on May 29, 1906, at 

 the meeting of the Pathological Society of London, held on that date,* we 

 made a preliminary statement to the effect that we had discovered the 

 existence of fatty degeneration in the blood in certain morbid conditions. We 

 are not aware that any similar observation has been published before this 

 announcement. The only work of a similar kind of which we know, indeed, 

 is that carried out by Professor Antonio Cesaris-Demel, at the Institute of 

 Pathological Anatomy of the University of Pisa. Of this a preliminary note 

 was published very shortly after our own, viz., in June, 1906, having been 

 communicated to the Koyal Academy of Medicine of Turin at its sitting of 

 June 8, 1906.J- The title of the note is, " On Degenerative Changes of the 

 Leucocytes of the Blood, studied by the Method of Coloration in the Fresh 

 State." The author gives no detailed account and no figures, although he 

 states that the stain used by him was Sudan III, one closely allied to that 

 used by ourselves. 



Our examination of blood films extends altogether to 79 cases and comprises 

 various morbid conditions. Nevertheless, it is in comparatively few that we 

 have satisfied ourselves of the presence of fat in the leucocytes, i.e., of points 

 or droplets presenting the same physical characters and coloration with 

 Scharlach as those seen, e.g., in the typical form of fatty degeneration of the 

 cardiac muscle or renal epithelium. 



List of Diseases in which the Blood was examined for Fatty Degeneration. 



Pernicious anaemia. Myelaemia. 



Toxaemia of pregnancy. Influenza. 



Subphrenic abscess. Exophthalmic goitre. 



Chlorosis. Acute pneumonia. 



Diphtheria. Chronic Bright's disease. 



Appendicitis. Purpura. 



Lymphadenoma. Pericarditis (rheumatic). 



Acute meningitis. Anaemia (secondary). 



* ' Brit. Med. Journ.,' June 2, 1906*. 



t 'Giornale della R. Accademia di Medecina di Torino,' Giugno-Luglio, 1906. 



