60 PROTOPLASM. 



The outer hardened formed material of an epithelial cell 

 may be torn or ruptured mechanically, as in a scratch or 

 prick by insects, pi. VIII, figs. 32 to 35 ; or it may be 

 rendered soft and more permeable to nutrient pabulum by 

 the action of certain fluids which bathe it. In either case 

 it is clear that the access of pabulum to the germinal matter 

 must be facilitated, and the latter necessarily "grows" that 

 is, converts certain of the constituents of the pabulum that 

 come into contact with it into matter like itself at an 

 increased rate. The mass of germinal matter increases in 

 size, and soon begins to divide into smaller portions, fig. 33. 

 Parts seem to move away from the general mass, fig. 34. 

 These at length become detached, and thus several separate 

 masses of germinal matter, which are embedded in the 

 softened and altered formed material, result, figs. 34, 35. 

 These changes will be understood by reference to the figures 

 in plate VIII. In this way the so-called inflammatory 

 product pus results. The abnormal pus-corpuscle is pro- 

 duced from the germinal or living matter of a normal epithe- 

 lial cell, the germinal matter of which has been supplied with 

 pabulum much more freely than in the normal state. In all 

 forms of inflammation, the germinal matter of the parts 

 inflamed increases very much, and the same change occurs 

 in every kind of fever, fig. 36, pi. VIII, but not to the same 

 extent. In both conditions there is increased development 

 of heat due to the increase of the germinal matter. In- 

 flammations and fevers are so very closely related that an 

 inflammation may be spoken of as a local fever, and a 

 fever as a general inflammation. 



It will be seen how easily the nature of the changes 

 occurring in cells in inflammation, fever, and other morbid 



