200 ROBEFtT K. S. LIM 



varieties of cells found in the stomach are functional modifica- 

 tions of one type is untenable. Tt is impossible to reconcile 

 this view with the differences in structure and reactions in 

 both fasting and feeding animals. 



Heidenhain (13) long ago observed that some chief cells 

 stain more readily with aniline blue than others —and referred 

 this to functional changes. This was later confirmed by Green- 

 wood (12) in the pig's stomach : she suggested that the ' clear ' 

 cells might be mucus cells, thus anticipating the results of two 

 subsequent observers. Both Bensley and Cade have distin- 

 guished two types of central cells (older observers from 

 l^j dinger (9) and Pilliet (22) downwards have found various 

 modifications of the central cells but not separate types), 

 which appear to be similar to the peptic and mucoid varieties 

 described here. Bensley was the first to note that the cells 

 of the ' neck ' region of the fundic glands stain in the same 

 manner as mucus-secreting cells ; these cells he termed ' in- 

 dulinophilous mucous cells '. Cade confirmed Bensley's finding 

 with indulin and called them ' cellules principals du col '. 

 In the cat the neck region is lined by oxyntic and transitional 

 cells, i.e. cells which have almost lost the division of the 

 cytoplasm into two zones so characteristic of the surface 

 mucous cells (see PI. 8, fig. 5, t). It is the portion of the gland 

 below the neck, therefore, that is lined chietiy by mucoid 

 cells (see PI. 8, fig. 5). Bensley (2) does state, however, that 

 an occasional ' indulinophilous cell ' may be found among the 

 central (peptic) cells of the deeper part of the gland, and from 

 an examination of his figures (PL 8. fig. 6) it is clear that the 

 neck region he describes includes the superficial portion of the 

 gland. To him credit is due for their discovery, although 

 a more definite description and wider distribution of the mucoid 

 cells must now be recognized. 



' Mucoid ' cells are described in only two text-books in 

 English, Schafer's ' Essentials of Histology ' (25), and the 

 American edition of Bohm and Davidoff, translated by Huber 

 (4). Of continental works I can only find a mention in Prenant, 

 Bouin, and Maillard (23), who ha^e an excellent diagram in 



