785 
Rerzıus '), but in accordance with the ideas of the older anatomists, 
and can be maintained on physiological as well as microscopic grounds. 
Great differences occur everywhere in the size of the local calibre 
of the bile capillaries; the polygonal network affords a certain degree 
of regularity, perhaps on account of its being composed of the longer 
lateral branches of the central columnar canals, but the main stems 
of the latter often develop many ampulla-like enlargements, and local 
swellings of considerable size, both on the main stem, and also on the 
lateral branches. 
The innermost termination of the central columnar canal (figs. 15, 
16) always ends blindly, after developing a number of lateral diverti- 
culae, also ending blindly, that gives it something of an arborescent 
figure. Many of the short lateral branches also are cloacae, but in a 
considerable proportion where there is no distinct swelling, or the 
reverse, a diminution to a finer calibre; we must allow for insufficient 
staining. In the polyhedral plexuses, breaks occur only where there 
is some defect, my most perfect specimens, obtained after ten to 
twelve days immersion in the silver solution, showing a perfectly un- 
broken plexus. 
From all portions of the main columnar canals from the larger 
and smaller branches, and from every blind ending, short diverticulae 
extend, varying but slightly in size in the different calibres. Most 
numerous within the polygonal plexuses, less frequent on the larger 
channels, these diverticulae show as uneven places along the margin 
of the sheath of the canals. Their shape is very varied, a majority 
of them are short rectangular processes from the capillary, the longest 
of them not extending more than half the breadth of a red blood- 
corpuscle into the liver cell (fig. 18). Other are longer and 
straight for a short distance, and then develop a ball-shaped or hammer- 
headed ending; still others appear as a simple unevenness in the 
canal, others much more rare, and perhaps not to be classed among 
the mouth diverticulae, have several lateral branches, but all penetrate 
into the substance of the liver cell. 
We do not think that there can be any doubt that these diver- 
ticulae are the true and proper endings (beginning) of the gall ca- 
pillaries, and that it is through them that the gall is taken up from 
the liver cell, and through the finer and larger channels eventually 
finds its way into the ducts. With immersion systems more than the 
spiculae and clubbed shaped diverticulae is to be seen. At the in- 
1) Reızıus, Biolog. Untersuch., Neue Folge IV, Stockholm 1892. 
51 
