MILLER — CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANATOMICAL LABORATORY. 235 



THE EPITHELIUM OF THE PERITONEAL CAVITY OF THE CAT. 



The cats used for the following study varied in age from 

 six months up to two years. Each peritoneal cavity was exam- 

 ined with special reference to the epithelium of the central 

 tendon, suspensory ligament of the liver, mesentery and great 

 omentum. Each cat was chloroformed and bled thoroughly so 

 as to lessen the possible chance of blood getting on the surfaces 

 to be studied. The abdomen of the animal was then carefully 

 opened and a piece of the omentum, of as large size as possible, 

 was removed to the silver solution. 



The remainder of the omentum was then turned aside, and 

 a large fold of the mesentery, together with the intestine to 

 which it was attached, was removed. The intestine was closed 

 by means of a double ligature previous to removal, and if any 

 blood-vessel appeared to contain a considerable amount of blood 

 it was also ligated. The loop of intestine served as a conven- 

 ient means of handling and protection from mechanical injury 

 and was not removed until the staining was complete. 



In some cases the peritoneal surfaces were stained in situ, 

 to reduce the risk of injury to a minimum. In other cases the 

 suspensory ligament and parts of the mesentery were removed 

 by supporting them on a glass slide and carefully excising a 

 portion with the scissors. The specimens were then transferred 

 to the stain, while still on the slide, and floated off. 



In all cases some one of the various solutions of nitrate of 

 silver was used. A slight modification of Dekhuysen's method 

 proved very satisfactory, giving sharp and clear boundary lines 

 to the epithelial cells. In a few instances the nuclei were 

 stained with haematoxylin. 



Special effort was made to obtain as large pieces of the mes- 

 entery, omentum, etc., as possible. The great difficulty with 



