420 JAS. P. HILL. 



tive process are met with, from the first signs of alteration of 

 the gland epithelium to the almost complete obliteration of 

 the gland lumen, by an accumulation of cellular debris, derived 

 from the completely disintegrated epithelial lining of the 

 gland (fig. 26, d.gl.). 



The deeper portions of the glands adjacent to the muscularis 

 are on the whole less altered. The gland epithelium here 

 still forms a distinct deeply staining layer, but it is somewhat 

 thinner, and not quite so regular as the gland epithelium of 

 former stages. The gland secretion not being able to pass 

 away, owing to the degeneration and occlusion of the peri- 

 pheral ends of the glands, is here often found in the lumen as 

 a deeply staining coagulum. The mouths of the glands still 

 open freely on the placental area. The glands would thus 

 appear to retain their function throughout the whole period of 

 intra-uterine development of the foetus. 



The blood-vessels also show considerable alteration. The 

 vessel walls appear greatly thickened, and the endothelial cells 

 have increased in size (fig. 26, m. v.) and proliferated, thus 

 markedly diminishing the lumen, and in some cases occluding 

 it completely (fig. 26, m. z;'.). In other more advanced cases 

 the whole vessel is found to have undergone fibrous degenera- 

 tion, and appears quite solid in section (fig. 26, m.v".). In 

 the coagulated blood in certain of the vessels, polynuclear 

 leucocytes are found to occur. 



Corium beyond Allantoic Placental Area. — Here the 

 corium has not undergone such marked change as that of the 

 placental area proper. 



Though in parts the connective-tissue cells have under- 

 gone a considerable amount of proliferation, yet the tissue as 

 a whole presents the same open and loose appearance as in the 

 preceding stages. 



The glands, too, present a more normal appearance, and 

 even where degeneration of their epithelium occurs it has 

 not advanced to such an extent as beneath the placental 

 area. 



The blood-vessels of this region show the same essential 



