14(1 VIKCHOW, ON THE COUKSE 



the kind observable in the blood- or lymphatic vessels. Nor 

 in the interior of the gland did the vascular plexus there 

 situated present any colouring. 



This discovery is of considerable importance as regards the 

 development of the corpora amylacea. On comparison vv^ith 

 the figures given by Kolliker (' Mik. Anat.' ii. 2, figs. 365- 

 367) of the normal lymphatic glands, it will be satisfactorily 

 seen that each individual amyloid granule corresponds, not 

 with a single cell, but with an entire group. For since the 

 fine net-work remains in the interior of the alveoli, and, speak- 

 ing generally, only one corpus amylaceurn lies in each areola, 

 it is obvious that it must represent an entire mass of the pre- 

 existing cells. In this case, also, the amyloid degeneration 

 cannot be regarded as a simple transformation of individual 

 cells ; as in the arterial vessels all parts of the wall — 

 connective tissue, and muscular fibres — are ultimately fused 

 into a homogeneous substance, so is it with the cells in the 

 lymphatic follicles. 



The morbid condition in the case last cited extended very 

 widely upwards. The epigastric lymphatic glands were also 

 extensively implicated, and on close examination some of the 

 bronchial glands also exhibited scattered waxy spots, though 

 it must be confessed to a very limited extent. At first it 

 appeared as if the process in the blood-vascular system was 

 limited to the minute arterioles of the lymphatic glands, 

 spleen, and kidneys ; but it was afterwards found that the 

 arterial vessels of the digestive tract were also largely im- 

 plicated. 



Dr. Jochmann was the first to notice that a strong iodine 

 reaction was manifested in the gastric mucous membrane, and 

 further investigation proved that this commenced in the 

 vessels, and was always most strongly marked in them. 

 Further research showed the same alteration in the vessels of 

 the mucous membrane of the oesophagus, and of the whole 

 intestinal canal, but particularly in the small intestine. It 

 was limited in all parts to the fine arterial vessels of the 

 mucous membrane, or at most involved only those of the 

 uppermost layer of the submucous tissue, and it might be 

 traced to some distance into the arterial side of the capillaries. 

 Without re-agents, little appearance of change was discernible, 

 the only indication of it consisting in the circumstance that 

 the walls were slightly thickened and homogeneous ; on the 

 application of iodine and sulphuric acid, however, a very 

 deep, dark-violet colour was manifested, which never passed 

 into such a beautiful blue as that presented in the lymphatic 

 glands, but was nevertheless very characteristic. Simple 



