196 ROBBllT K. S. LIM 



figs. 2 and 3, p, xxi). Nevertheless, with both forinol and 

 osniic, a few granules may be preserved ; this is especially 

 the case after osmic fixation (PI. 8, fig. 3, p, xx, in). The 

 regularity of the reticulum suggests that the extra-granular 

 cytoplasm is coagulated before the granules are dissolved out. 

 The reticulum may therefore be taken as a rough index of 

 the amount and size of the granules contained in the cell. 



With regard to their reaction to various dyes, both the 

 reticulum and the granules become intensely stained blue with 

 alcoholic eosin and methylene blue, deep purplish Idue with 

 polychrome methylene blue, and brownish violet with Mallory. 

 They are only lightly stained by haematoxylin, but more 

 strongly so by the iron haematoxylin method. The nucleus 

 is irregularly ovoid or rounded ; it varies in shape and position 

 according to the activity of the cell. 



l^\mctional changes are easily noted in these cells. In the 

 fasting condition the nucleus is found towards the base of the 

 cell and the cytoplasm is reticulated throughout. After a period 

 of activity, i. e. during digestion, the cell gradually shrinks, 

 and the nucleus becomes larger and occupies a more central 

 position. Teased preparations seem to show that the granules 

 are on the whole larger in the fresh condition, while in fixed 

 specimens the meshes of the reticulum are wider. Ergasto- 

 plasmic fibres occur at the base of the cell, while the reticula- 

 tions (granules) diminish near the lumen of the gland. In 

 some cases (five to six hours after a large meal) half of the cell 

 may be occupied by ergastoplasmic fibres. These fibres stain 

 in the same way as the reticulum, although more definitely 

 than it (PI, 8, fig. 3, p, in, and fig. 5, jj). Langley was the 

 first to demonstrate the diminution of granules during activity ; 

 he also stated that the cells become clearer at their bases. 

 Later Bensley, Zimmermann (30), and Theohari (23) showed 

 that the basal clear zone is occupied by ergastoplasmic fibres 

 (prozymogen of Macallum (19)). These observations I can 

 confirm in the cat. The swelling of the granules during diges- 

 tion appears to be a stage in the conversion of zymogen into 

 soluble ferment and occurs more rapidly than the formation 



