It is well known that some kinds of crystal are produced in the human body, uric acid being a famous example.
Recently, I have discovered a new crystal, not only in the hip joint, but in muscle, bone, cartilage, capsulo-synovium and fat tissue in seventeen cases of primary osteoarthritis of the hip. However the crystal was not observed in the hip joint in eight cases of secondary osteoarthritis of the hip and in 28 cases of other diseases.
The crystal is easily soluble in 10% formalin and alcohol which is one reason why past researchers and pathologists have been unable to observe it.
The crystal is possibly derived from a fat or lipoid compound caused by metabolic disorders.
