1904-5.] ON THE ABSORPTION OF FAT IN THE INTESTINE. 249 
monly do we find them connected with the interepithelial spaces, (Figs. 
5, 6 and especially Fig. 8). Again one can demonstrate fat within the 
lower third of the epithelial cells and reaching almost to the basement 
membrane and yet not going directly towards the lacteal, but, instead, 
being excreted into the interepithelial space and pressed into the 
parenchyma as a fine stream, (Fig. 5). In the same drawing one can 
see the fat within the epithelium streaming towards the interepithelial 
space. For these reasons I feel justified in stating that most of the fat is 
excreted into these interepithelial spaces which apparently are in direct 
communication with the large, fat-containing space of the parenchyma. 
Within the fat streams, especially at the tip of the villi, numerous leuco- 
cytes, more or less laden with fat, are to be seen. (Fig. 1). At the sides 
of the lacteal, however, where the leucocytes are much less numerous one 
can frequently trace fat streams from the basement membrane to the 
lacteal without the intervention of leucocytes, a point which adds con- 
siderable weight to the contention that the leucocytes play a minor role 
in the transference of the fat through the adenoid tissue of the villus. 
Often too the only leucocyte intervening is a polymorphonuclear one 
which, so far as I can make out, never takes up fat, (Fig. 2)- 
I have already stated that I regard these fat-containing spaces as 
connected with the central lacteal on the one hand, and with the inter- 
epithelial spaces on the other. In any event one can, with the greatest 
ease, demonstrate fat streams going direct from these interepithelial 
spaces through the parenchyma to the wall of the lacteal, (Fig. 8). 
VI.—TRANSFER OF Fat THROUGH THE PARENCHYMA. 
There have been various views put forward as to how the fat is car- 
ried through the adenoid tissue. Von Basch* believes that the connective 
tissue strands are channeled and that the fat proceeds through these open- 
ings. As Heidenhainf has pointed out, such coarse strands of connective 
tissue are not to be seen unless produced by shrinking and bad technique 
so that Von Basch’s theory has no basis of fact to support it. The con- 
tention of Zawarykin{ that the leucocytes send out pseudopodia and take 
the fat from the epithelial cells and later discharge it against the lacteal 
wall cannot be substantiated. I have carefully examined many hundreds 
of sections and have seen nothing which could be so interpreted. The 
question now arises: what part do the leucocytes take in the transfer of 
*Sitzungsber. der Wiener Akad., Math. Nat. Cl, Vol. 62, p. 1, 1870. 
tOp. cit. ‘ 
tPfliiger’s Archiv, Vol. 31, p. 231, 1883, 
