200 JOHN SUNDWALL 



Nature of granules. Ellenberger states that the lachrymal 

 gland of the pig is a mucous secreting gland, while Boll states — 

 regarding pig, sheep, calf, and dog — ''Es ist hieraus mit Sicher- 

 heit zu erschliessen dass das Secret der Thranendruse nie mucin 

 enthalt." Which is true in the case of the lachrymal gland of the 

 ox? Although the specific reaction of these granules to the 

 mucous stains might indicate that this gland may be mucous in 

 character, in my opinion it cannot be classed as mucous, since : 



1) If one takes fresh pieces of the pancreas, submaxillary, and 

 lachrymal glands and compares the secretions which can be 

 pressed out one is impressed with the similarity of certain physi- 

 cal properties of the secretions of the pancreas and lachrymal 

 glands. The fluids of both are thin and watery with no adhesive 

 qualities. The secretion from the submaxillary gland, on the 

 other hand, is viscid, thick and sticky to such an extent that 

 pieces of tissue are readily supported by it. 2) A careful analysis 

 of numerous lachrymal glands from the standpoint of their 

 physiological chemical structure showed that they are in no 

 wise similar to mucous glands. 3) The structure of the cells of 

 the tubules and intercalary ducts does not simulate those of the 

 submaxillary gland and other mucous glands. 4) One finds that 

 the lachrymal gland has the follo\ving characteristics which 

 are true of serous glands in general: a) The granules have a 

 high refractive index, b) The granules are insoluble in weak 

 alkaline solution. Following Bensley's procedure I found that 

 sections fixed in his bichromate alcohol sublimate solution 

 showed no change after having stood for twelve, twenty-four 

 and forty-eight hours in 5 per cent potassium carbonate solution 

 at a temperature of 38°, while in similarly treated sections 

 of the submaxillary gland the granules of the mucous cells 

 had completely disappeared in twenty- four hours. The granule 

 stain in the lachrymal gland is as definite and as intense as is 

 seen in the stained normal sections. Similarly treated sections 

 in five per cent hydrochloric acid for the same length of time 

 did not affect the granule stain in the least, c) The granules 

 stain readily in all serous granule stains, d) The presence of 

 secretory capillaries. On the other hand certain characteristics 



