186 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Endocrine Gland in Uterus of Pregnant Rat — P. Weill {C. R. 

 Soc. Biol, 1919, 82, 1433-5). A description of large glandular cells 

 clustered round the capillaries of the uterine myometrium. Cytologically 

 they seem referable to the connective-tissue type of cell, but they are 

 distinctly secretory, elaborating eosinophilous granulations. They form 

 a perivascular endocrine gland. J. A. T. 



Cortical Layer of Simple Teeth.— Ed. PtETTERER ((7. R. Soc. Biol, 



1919, 32, 1222-5). The cortical layer or cement is ossified in the same 

 way as the periosteum or tendons. Connective-tissue cells become first 

 vesicular and then bony ; they are transformed into cementoblasts or 

 corticoblasts. This transformation takes place under conditions of 

 pressure. The corticoblasts are oval or rounded cells, with clear 

 cytoplasm ; they are encapsuled, and the capsule is surrounded by 

 granular non-calcified cytoplasm. J. A. T. 



Dust Cells in Pulmonary Alveoli. — A. Guieysse-Pellisier (C. R. 

 Soc. Biol, 1919, 82, 1215-7). A study of stages of transformation 

 convinces the author that the dust cells found free in the pulmonary 

 alveoH are greatly modified epithelial cells, adapted to a phagocytic 

 function. J. A. T. 



Fat in Pulmonary Epithelium.— F. Granel (G. R. Soc. Biol, 1919, 

 82, 1367-9). A study of the epithelium of the alveoli and of the 

 terminal bronchial ramifications. There is in the small nucleated cells 

 a transformation of mitochondrial granules into fat. In fact these cells 

 may be fairly called glandular, producing granules of a fatty nature 

 which may possibly play a part in fixing certain substances. This may 

 be of interest in connection with Bohr's theory that the gaseous 

 exchanges in the lung are more aUied to secretory activity than to 

 osmotic diffusion. J. A. T. 



Supporting Tissue of Human Liver.— Pt. Collin {C. R. Soc. Biol, 



1920, 83, 78-80). The supporting tissue of the liver is much reduced 

 in man ; it consists essentially of the interlobular connective tissue, of 

 the adventitia which surrounds the central vein of the lobules, and of the 

 trellised fibres forming an intralobular system, connecting the interlobular 

 connective tissue and the adventitia. It seems subordinated to the dis- 

 position of the blood-vessels. J. A. T. 



c. General. 



Cross Immunization.— li. Camus and E. Gley (0. R. Soc. Biol, 

 1919, 82, 1240-1). Rabbits immunized against the serum of Muraena 

 resisted that of AnguiUa, and vice versa, there being reciprocal innnuniza- 

 tion. The authors have already shown that rabbits immunized against 

 the serum of AnguiUa are also immune to that of the conger-eel. But 

 rabbits immunized against eel serum are not immune to that of the 

 Torpedo, nor vice versa. J. A. T. 



Physiological Inertia and Physiological Momentum. — D. Eraser 

 Harris {Scientific MonthJij, 1919, 539—49). Functional or physiological 



