NEW BOOKS, WITH SHORT NOTICES. 
151 
tlie corpuscles from running together, he thinks the use of sulphate 
of soda as an artificial serum is best. After this comes the author’s 
observations on various forms of cells, and on connective tissue in 
its different varieties. This portion of the work is extremely fully 
done. It seems to us that the following remarks are of much import- 
ance, especially in regard to the distribution of so-called nerves in 
the cornea : 
“ Endothelial cells are usually flattened, delicate, frequently some- 
what polygonal bodies, with a round or oval nucleus, and form single 
layers. The cells being usually somewhat rounded, minute angular 
spaces are left between them, and as these spaces are generally filled 
by an albuminous substance, they are indicated in silver preparations 
by a black deposit of albuminate of silver. They arc then described 
as the so-called ‘ stomata.’ These are always seen in silver prepara- 
tions of serous membranes, and are especially marked if the albumi- 
nous substance has not been previously removed in part by irrigation 
with water.” 
The author’s observations on the study of connective tissue gene- 
rally are peculiarly instructive, and will be read with interest by the 
practical worker. His modes of preparation are very various ; some 
of them are very lengthy, and many of them are of his own devising. 
In this part there is a curious argument in support of the view that 
certain spiral fibres are elastic ones, which, however, appears to be 
the correct aspect of the matter. The subject of bone is not one that 
the ordinary student takes up to work at with pleasure. It gives him 
too much trouble. Still he will find from the author’s account of 
Yon Ebner’s recent researches that there are many novel points of 
interest connected with this matter. The subjects, too, of muscle — 
especially voluntary — nerve-fibres, the pacinian corpuscles, the heart, 
the lymphatics, the intestinal canal, the liver, the spleen, and the 
kidneys are all dealt with fairly, and some of them at considerable 
length. It is when we come to the brain and spinal cord that we find 
the author has not done his work fully. In fact, this, which is a 
most important branch of histology at present, is left almost un- 
touched. We wonder why this part of the work has been so briefly 
dealt with ; and we suppose it is because Dr. Thin considers it too 
vast to be introduced into a mere student’s handbook. However, this 
absence is almost compensated for by the extremely long and lucid 
explanations which the author has given with regard to the structures 
of the eye and the best modes of examining them. This chapter, almost 
the last in the volume, is full to overflowing, of useful hints and 
suggestions to the practical histologist. Indeed, we have never before 
read of the long-detailed process which he gives for the preparation 
of the cornea for investigation, but we doubt not it will be found 
useful by those who have sufficient experience to put it in practice. 
Indeed, it will be evident from what we have already said that 
this book of Dr. Thin’s is a vast accumulation of original and other 
modes of examining the tissues, and that it is tersely worded. If we 
have any complaint to urge, in concluding our notice of his labours, 
it is that in preparing his volume he seems not to have possessed that 
VOL. XVIII. M 
