374 E. R. BENSLEY. 



features in the structure of the chief cells of the body of the 

 gland, namely, the presence of granules of zymogen in a por- 

 tion of the cell of varying extent next the lumen, and the 

 presence in large amount in the protoplasm of the outer end 

 of the cell, and in that between the granules, of a kind of 

 chromatin called prozymogen, which stains strongly with 

 hsematoxylin and other nuclear stains, and gives, after treat- 

 ment with sulphuric acid alcohol, a strong reaction for iron. 

 Further, the outer protoplasmic prozymogen-impregnated zone 

 exhibits a coarse fibrillar structure, which is a quite frequent 

 morphological feature of the ferment-secreting cell. 



I have not been able to make out any primary structure in 

 the protoplasm, that is any differentiation into a firmer frame- 

 work and hyaline interstitial substance, although such may 

 exist and be masked in the ferment-secreting cell by the large 

 amount of deeply staining prozymogen present. 



In the neck of the gland the chief cells are of smaller size 

 and more pyramidal in shape, and are present to the number 

 of one to four between each pair of border cells. 



It has already been indicated in the description of the fresh 

 gland that the neck of the gland is devoid of zymogen granules. 

 This may be readily verified by the examination of sections 

 prepared after fixation in the alcohol bichromate sublimate 

 mixture, and stained in gentian violet. Such preparations 

 exhibit exactly the same division of the mucosa into two zones 

 as has been observed in the fresh material, due in this case, 

 however, to the fact that the zymogen granules with which 

 the chief cells of the body of the glands are filled stain 

 intensely in the dye, and thus give a deep stain to the body of 

 the gland, whilst the cells of the neck of the gland which con- 

 tain no granules have only their nuclei stained. Under the 

 high power not a single granule may be found in the chief 

 cells of the neck of the gland. 



This absence of granules is not due to imperfect fixation, as 

 might be inferred, for one may see at the junction of the neck 

 and body-cells of both kinds, side by side, some containing 

 granules of zymogen, perfectly preserved and staining readily, 



