9 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
[Biolog. 
10-12. Works of Robert Boyle, 1699; from J. H. Slack. 
North American Medico-Chirurgical Review, 1858, Nos. 1 and 2. 
50 copies of Dr. Hammond's Essay on the Alterations induced by Intermittent 
fever in the physical and chemical qualities of the Urine, and on the action of 
the Disulphate of Quinine. 
Dr. James' Medical Dictionary, 3 vols., quarto ; deposited by Dr. Hammond. 
Also, a portrait of Prof. Ehrenberg, of Berlin, presented by Mr. James W. 
Queen. 
The following were presented April 19th, 1858. 
American Journal of Medical Sciences, Jan. and April, 1858. 
Leeuwenhoekii Arcana Naturae : Swammerdammii Historia Insectorum Gene- 
ralis ; from Mr. W. G. Tilghman, through Mr. Edward Tilghman. 
The ^a/?er5 read before the Department during the present month, were as 
follows : 
I Observations on the Blood of the Sturgeon. By S. W. Mitchell, M.D. Referred 
to a Special Committee. 
Summary of the Transactions of the Philadelphia Biological Society ; by Henry 
Hartshorne, M. D., Recording Secretary. Referred to a special Committee. 
Essay on the Supra-renal Capsules ; by J. Darby, M. D. Referred to the 
Committee on Physiology. 
A case of Fatty Degeneration of theHeart. in which death followed the inhala- 
tion of chloroform. By W. A. Hammond, M. D., U. S. A. Referred to the Com- 
mittee on Pathology. 
A verbal communication was made by J. Cheston Morris, M. D., April 5th, in 
connection with the exhibition of a human embryo, ten or twelve days old. A 
report of the discussions which have taken place in the Department during the 
month will be prepared and submitted hereafter. 
Henry Hartshorne, Recorder. 
Observations on the Blood Crystals of the Sturgeon. 
BY S. WEIR MITCHELL, M. D. 
While studying the blood of the sturgeon some time ago, I observed certain 
facts of interest in regard to the crystallization of the albuminoid contents of 
the blood corpuscles. In man, it is difficult to obtain blood crystals, and in 
some cases I have totally failed to form them from his blood. In the sturgeon, 
ihe tendency on the part of the blood to undergo this change is so great that it 
is difficult to check the formation of crystals where their presence is undesira- 
ble. Two methods of procuring the crystals may be employed : 
1st. A drop of fresh blood is placed on a slide, and allowed to evaporate to 
one half of its bulk. An equal quantity of distilled water is next added, and an 
over glass superimposed. The crystals sometimes appear in a few minutes, 
but more often they are first seen within periods varying from one hour to 
ten. Once begun, the process continues slowly for some time. 
2d. A readier mode, where time is not an object, is to allow the whole mass 
of blood to stand in an open vessel exposed to light, and to a temperature of 
*iO° or 70° F. Decomposition occurs slowly. The clot dissolves within a week, 
and the mass of blood becomes dark and very fluid. When evaporation is 
allowed to take place for a length of time, the blood becomes very ofl'ensive, 
and of a tar-like consistency. 
At any time after forty-eight hours, a drop of this blood will yield by slight 
evaporation, without added water, the most beautiful crystals. After this period, 
the. crystals form abundantly in the mass of blood, and may be easily examined. 
The crystals formed in the two ways just described are essentially alike, but, 
as other crystals of a different character occur with them, it is necessary to 
describe all the forms which present themselves. 
The first crystals which form, in whatever mode the blood be treated, are of 
[April; 
