THE LYMPH -NODES. 



393 



DEGENERATION. 



Amyloid Degeneration of the blood-vessels and reticulum of the lymph 

 nodes occurs under the conditions which favor this change in general. 

 ITmay occur in connection with amyloid degeneration of other parts of 

 the body, or by itself. It may occur in nodes otherwise normal, or in 

 those which are the seat of other lesions thus in simple chronic or tuber- 

 culous inflammation. It is frequently found in the mesentericjyrnph- 

 nodes, in connection with waxy degeneration of the intestinal mucous 

 membrane. 



Kyalin Degeneration of the external layers of the smaller arteries and 

 the capillaries and reticulum of the lymph-nodes occurs occasionally in 

 old age or in connection with wasting diseases. 



PIGMENTATION. 



The pigment which is very frequently found in lymph-nodes may be 

 derived from the haemoglobin of the blood, either in the nodes themselves 1 

 or in remote parts, or it may be formed of various materials introduced 



FIG. 303. PIGMENTATION OF BRONCHIAL LYMPH-NODE. 



The pigment is largely in the lymph sinuses and enclosed in cells. A, Capsule of node ; B, lymph follicle 

 nodule; C, perifollicular lymph sinuses. 



into the body from without, such as the pigments used in tattooing, re- 

 spired dust particles of various kinds coal, stone, iron, etc. (Fig. 203). 

 The pigment particles, which usually first lodge in the lymph sinuses, 

 may collect here in large quantities, either in the reticulum or the cells 

 lying in its meshes; they may penetrate the follicles and cords and find 

 permanent lodgment there. They usually induce a greater or less degree 

 of chronic inflammation, so that in extreme cases, such as are frequently 

 seen in the bronchial lymph-nodes, nothing is finally left of the node but 



