86 The Microscopie Structure Oa eee eras 
have, however, not found so common as is usually believed, except 
in the case of fatty livers. By the addition of ether these fat- 
clobules disappear, while the other granules are not affected at all. 
The cells then are observed to shrink, and to collect in masses, 
together with the free nuclei and granules. The fat, dissolved by 
the ether, is seen in the form of globules or irregular patches of 
various sizes, distributed over the field of the microscope. Under 
these circumstances the cells float no longer, but settle instantly, 
without regard to the amount of water added ; they have also lost 
their transparency, and their delicate outlines have become coarse 
and dark. ‘The granules seemed to be rendered more distinct. 
The free nuclei found among the hepatic cells differ in size, and 
have the same character as those within the latter. The same may 
be said of the free granules. 
Sometimes the nucleus within the cell is found in a state of 
division. This, and the presence of free nuclei, would indicate that 
the multiplication of the hepatic cells might take place, both by free 
development and by division. 
Evidences adduced of the existence of the Network of “ Biliary 
Tubules,” in which the finest branches of the Hepatic Duct and 
Lymphatiecs originate. 
The views of numerous investigators on the microscopic anatomy 
of the liver, as already mentioned, have always been conflicting in 
regard to the commencement of the finest branches of the hepatic 
duct. It would be difficult to find out the cause of this discrepancy 
in the results obtained by different authorities. And yet, when 
considering the satisfactory results obtained by them from investi- 
gations of a far more difficult nature on other subjects, I cannot 
but think that the proper means have not been resorted to, or this 
subject has perhaps not received the attention it deserved. 
I will now proceed to prove the existence of the network by 
means of injection. If either the hepatic artery, portal vein or he- 
patic veins of the liver are injected with a coloured material, and 
upon a careful microscopic examination of fine sections of the sub- 
stance of the liver we discover a capillary network of the same 
colour as was injected, the natural inference would be that this 
network zs continuous with the finest branches of the blood-vessel into 
which the material was injected. This has been repeatedly done, 
and no one doubts its correctness. All anatomists believe in the 
existence of a capillary network which forms the connecting link 
between the finest branches of the portal vein and hepatic artery 
and those of the hepatic veins. But what would be the inference, 
if the same material were injected into the hepatic duct, and a ca- 
pillary network of the same colour were discovered by a subsequent 
