492 ARMAND RUFFER. 
Occasionally a field may be found in that situation in which 
they are totally absent. They are not very large as a rule 
when found near the epithelial lining, though they often already 
contain leucocytes in their interior, together with microbes ina 
more or less advanced stage of degeneration. Few microphages 
are seen in the middle layers of the patches, but the deeper 
layers are crowded with them. One field of the microscope 
(Vérick, oc. 3, obj. imm. 74) may contain ten, fifteen, or more 
of these gigantic cells, crammed almost to bursting with leuco- 
cytes and digested micro-organisms. In some places three or 
more are huddled together, forming a kind of nest, which at 
first presents an extremely puzzling appearance (see fig. 14). 
One might almost suppose that they formed a kind of rear- 
guard, posted in the depths of the lymphoid tissues in order to 
defend the organism against the attacks of microbes. These 
cells are, however, but seldom found quite in the lowest depths 
of the patch, for in most cases there is a layer of five or six 
lymphocytes between the lowest macrophage and the submucous 
tissue. 
The macrophages found close to the epithelial lining often 
contain micro-organisms only without any leucocytes (see 
figs. 8, 8 dis), and hence I am inclined to think that, although 
unable to prove it, the macrophages actually wander to the 
surface after their prey just as they do in the tonsils. On the 
other hand, it might be assumed that microphages containing 
microbes have been swallowed by macrophages, but that the 
cellulose covering of the bacilli protected them in a more effi- 
cient way against the digestive action of the large cells, the 
microphages being digested far more quickly. Both explana- 
tions are probably correct. | 
It has been stated already that microphages wander as far 
as the free surface of the intestines, and there seize on micro- 
organisms. Inthe superficial layers below the epithelial lining 
a few of these microphages are always present, the micro- 
organisms in their interior staining sometimes normally with 
aniline dyes, sometimes presenting signs of being partially 
digested. Some microphages are still free, others (intracellular 
