688 CARREL— FURTHER STUDIES ON [November 6, 



take place. The spleen, liver and kidneys are also rapidly destroyed. 

 On the contrary, the anatomical structures which compose a limb 

 are very strong and can overcome for a long time the cadaveric 

 processes. The different parts of the same organ do not present 

 similar resistancy to cadaveric disintegration. Among the anatom- 

 ical components of renal substance, the cells of the secretory tubules 

 are extremely delicate and may present marked morphological 

 changes a short time after death. The cells of the excretory tubuli 

 are stronger. The glomeruli are still more resistant. It may hap- 

 pen that the epithelial cells are already dead, while the glomeruli 

 and the vessels are still living. The vascular endothelium seems to 

 be the " ultimum moriens " of the organ, according to Wells. The 

 vessels, which are the necessary condition of life of organs, are also 

 the part of the organs which resists longer the disintegrative proc- 

 esses. The elements which compose the wall of an artery differ 

 widely in resistancy. The muscular fibers die first. Immediately 

 after the stopping of the circulation, all the elements of the vascular 

 wall are alive. If the transplantation is performed at this moment, 

 the artery lives in the body of its host and keeps its normal consti- 

 tution. If the transplantation is performed a little later, when the 

 muscular fibers are already dead, the wall of the artery will be com- 

 posed mainly of connective and elastic tissue, and the muscular fibers 

 will disappear. If the artery is completely dead when the trans- 

 plantation is made, its wall will be composed of amorphous sub- 

 stance, around which the organism will create an envelope of dense 

 connective tissue. 



Elemental death is brought about by microbian and autolytic 

 enzymes. Immediately after general death, the microorganisms 

 from the digestive tract diffuse through the body and their ferments 

 begin to destroy the tissues. At the same time, the autolytic fer- 

 ments, which are not any longer held in check by the serum, con- 

 tribute also to the disintegration of the organs. This destructive 

 process is increased or retarded by the causes which activate or 

 retard the enzymotic actions, and the multiplication of the micro- 

 organisms. For instance, the rate of cadaveric disintegration, which 

 is very rapid at 35° or 40° C, becomes very slow at + 1° or -f- 2° C. 

 It is completely stopped by desiccation of the tissues. The preser- 



