Albert C. Eycleshymer 325 
So far as can be gathered from all the known facts it would seem that 
cells become loosened as Barfurth maintains and those of the one side 
slowly move toward those of the opposite side until they meet. Barfurth 
scems to regard the movement as one of mass movement, as well as indi- 
vidual cells. He, however, explicitly states that the basal cells take no 
part in the movement. The process is somewhat different in Necturus 
since as pointed out, there is a participation in the extension of the epider- 
mis by the basal cells in that they become greatly elongated in the 
direction of the extension of the epithelium. 
All who have studied the healing of the wounds in the amphibia are 
agreed that the movement of the epidermis is not due to cell proliferation. 
Most hold that no mitotic figures can be found until many hours, even 
days have elapsed. My observations show that the mitotic figures are 
not inceased, although present, until several hours after the margins of 
the wound have coalesced. At first, I was inclined to think that direct 
division played no part and had come to agree with Barfurth that it is 
extremely doubtful if any cases of direct division are present. My at- 
tention was again called to this subject through the work of Dr. C. M. 
Child, and after a careful re-examination of the sections I am inclined 
to believe that amitosis is a factor of considerable importance in the 
healing of wounds in the young Necturus. 
The return of the cells to an indifferent character is another remarkable 
feature of the epidermis. It certainly appears, as Fraisse and Barfurth 
say, that the epidermis undergoes a degenerative change. The cell 
bridges, the culticula and the glands disappear. All indicating that the 
epidermis returns to an indifferent condition. The cells become loosened 
from each other, take on amceboid movement and cover the wound, and 
when equilibrium is restored, the cells again become differentiated, giving 
rise to the structures which disappeared. 
