JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
AUGUST 1897. 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 
YI . — On the Development and Structure of Dental Enamel * 
By J. Leon Williams, D.D.S., L.D.S., F.R.M.S. 
(. Abstract of a paper read before the R.M.S., 11 th March , 1897.) 
Plates II.-Y. 
A little more than a year ago I had the honour to present a paper 
before the Royal Society on the subject of enamel development. This 
paper, as I said at the time, was in the nature of a preliminary state- 
ment, made while investigation was in progress, for the purpose of 
placing on record several new facts which had appeared. The signifi- 
cance of these facts was hardly touched upon, and, in truth, not fully 
seen by myself at that time. Further investigation has shown more 
clearly the bearing of these new points upon many of the old problems 
of enamel development and structure. It seemed fitting to me that 
these discoveries, or what I believe to be such, should be brought 
before the Society best qualified to discuss such problems from the 
microscopist’s point of view. The several phases of enamel develop- 
ment and structure to which I especially wish to call your attention 
this evening are — 
1st. The method of the distribution of the blood supply to the 
enamel organ. 
2nd. The arrangement of the cells of the stratum intermedium 
with reference to the blood supply. 
3rd. The function of the stratum intermedium. 
4th. The function of the ameloblasts. 
5th. The true structure of the so-called “ stellate reticulum.” 
6th. The modus operandi of enamel formation. 
7th. The structure of completely formed enamel. 
* This paper, when read before the Royal Microscopical Society, was illustrated 
by nearly 100 photographs, covering all the points mentioned. 
1897 
EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 
See description on each separate Plate. 
T 
