SKIN. MUCOUS AND SEROUS MEMBRANES. 



669 



FIG. 378. 



tissue. This appears to be the case in elephantiasis, where the 

 hypertrophy is increased by the effusion of plastic lymph into 

 the areolae and its subsequent organization. 



The squamous eruptions of the skin, ichthyosis, pityriasis, 

 psoriasis, all consist of collections of epidermic scales. In 

 pityriasis they are placed loosely together ; in psoriasis they are 

 more aggregated ; and in ichthyosis very much condensed. 



A number of epidermic scales, 

 arranged into the form of a capsule, 

 constitute a favous crust. This cap- 

 sule is lined by a mass of very fine 

 granules, from which sprout crypto - 

 gamic plants in the greatest abun- 

 dance. 



Upon healthy granulating sur- 

 faces may be seen pus-corpuscles, 

 fibre-cells in various stages of deve- 

 lopment, and newly-formed fibres. 

 (Fig. 378.) In scrofulous and un- 

 healthy sores, the broken-down pus 

 bears some resemblance to tubercle-corpuscles. The epithelial 

 ulcer or cancer, as it is commonly, but erro- 

 neously called, generally commences on the 

 lip as a small induration or wart, which soon 

 softens in the centre, while the hardened 

 edges extend over the cheek and chin. This 

 softened matter consists of epithelial and fibre Fibrous 1issue formed from 

 or fibro-plastic cells. (Fig. 381.) Sometimes 

 the cells are large and flat, and contain numerous fat-molecules 

 arid granules. (Fig. 380.) According to Bennett, the so-called 



Fibre-cells passing into fibres. 



FlG. 379. 



FlG. 380. 



FIG. 381. 



ip 



f"ii\w / 

 mm 



Fig. 380. Altered epithelial cells, from ulcer of lip. Fig. 381. Epithelial and fibre-cells, from 



ulcer of lip. 



chimney-sweeps' cancer of the scrotum is essentially a similar 

 formation, consisting externally of flattened epithelial scales 

 passing into fibres ; and, deeper-seated, either groups of younger 



