474 DAVID H. DOLLEY 



vantage, though on a lower level. It is true that the volumetric 

 estimation of it must be a matter of judgment, not of measure- 

 ment, but it is sufficiently demonstrated aside from that by the 

 relative excess of nucleolar substance, and by plasmosomes, in 

 addition to the nucleolar basis of the karyosome, even without 

 the excess of chromatin which may occur. This is in conspicuous 

 contrast with senility of activity, for any atrophic cells of corre- 

 sponding grade would almost surely lack either element of the 

 amphinucleolus (Dolley, '11). Incidentally, the packing of the 

 nucleus with nucleolar substance is the marked feature of chronic 

 depression next to lack of chromatic substance in the plasma. 



Thus in the cell atrophy, which in some way represents dis- 

 organization, there persists the index of the original process which 

 is physiological. So far at least, in respect to function, the essen- 

 tial permanent changes of depression maintain the quantitative 

 principle which has subtended all other functional states. Only 

 the absolute level and the relative level of plasma to nucleus are 

 lowered, it may be to the vanishing point. 



Reorganization of the nuclear membrane and its failure 



The next phenomenon is the hold over into chronic depression 

 of. an undemonstrable nuclear membrane. This is best seen after 

 one to four weeks of recovery. Cells appear, without much 

 atrophy, and with some restoration of chromatic substance in 

 the plasma, though far from the standard amount, whose nuclear 

 materials are plainly localized in their lighter eosinophilic charac- 

 ter (nucleolar substance), but merge without demarcating line 

 into the plasma. On the other hand, from the fact that after 

 more prolonged recovery such appearances are lacking in similar 

 cells, the nucleus is able to reorganize a perceptible protective 

 covering. 



The nuclear membrane is generally conceded to be a distinct, 

 individualized structure, difficultly soluble and resistant to ordi- 

 nary reagents (Heidenhain, '07, p. 132), but there is no question of 

 the phenomenon of its solution in depression. It has been noted 

 in all studies of the morphology of severe depression (R. Hert- 

 wig, '04 and Howard, '08, f or ,Actinosphaerium ; Calkins, '04 and 



