58 THE ACTION OF THE LIVING CELL 



cussed at the beginning of this chapter, autolysis must 

 result. In the case of the simple distention experi- 

 ments this autolysis in all likelihood does not proceed 

 very far ; nevertheless protein decomposition products 

 are liberated in sufficient quantity to affect the muscle 

 cells locally, resulting in a state of fatigue. On the 

 other hand when the stomach is distended by air for 

 a considerable period, as in the shock experiments, 

 the blood supply to the tissues is interfered with for 

 a sufficiently long time to permit marked autolysis to 

 progress; hence a much larger amount of protein 

 split products is liberated into the general circulation 

 and shock results. These inferences are in agreement 

 with the histological evidence which, as previously 

 stated, showed a decrease in the cell granules and the 

 affinity of the nucleus for stains — a result always en- 

 countered in autolyzing cells. Further, it is now com- 

 mon knowledge that impairment of the circulation 

 leads to autolysis and atrophy. 



In 1897 the author reported the results of various 

 ligation experiments. It was found that ligation of the 

 portal vein resulted in the death of the animals within 

 three days, and the liver tissues whose blood supply 

 had been thus interfered with showed evidence of ex- 

 tensive autolysis. After ligation of the veins along the 

 lesser curvature of the stomach, microscopic examina- 

 tion revealed evidence of local autolysis and promi- 

 nent erosions in the gastric mucosa. Similar results 

 obtained by the local ligation of various portions of 

 the stomach lead to the conclusion then expressed that 

 "Erosions of the stomach occurred wherever the 

 venous outlet was obstructed." 



In 1914, incidental to a study of the diffusion of 

 bacteria into the intestinal wall, various portions of 



