62 ANATOMY OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



SECTION II. PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. 



MUCH less attention has been paid to the study of the serous mem- 

 branes in pathological respects. As regards the changes which the 

 endothelium of the surface undergoes under morbid conditions, we meet 

 with the assertions of Kindfleisch, Eanvier and Kundrat. The two last 

 authors confirm the germination of the endothelium in inflammation 

 of the serous membranes. The process of germination is, according 

 to them, exactly the same as it occurs otherwise, and as we had 

 occasion to see in the normal state ; the cells increase in size, become 

 more polyhedral, the nuclei are observed to divide, and then the cells 

 themselves. According to Kundrat the miliary nodules on the serous 

 membrane in tuberculosis are derived from germinating endothelium. 



According to Sanderson there is a pre-existing adenoid tissue in 

 the omentum in the form of nodules and cords, which increases to an 

 extraordinary extent in chronic inflammation, so that the nodules and 

 cords of tubercle which occur in artificial tuberculosis are nothing but 

 hyperplastic adenoid tissue. According to Knauff small knots and 

 cords are present even under normal conditions, consisting of a collec- 

 tion of lymphoid elements. These small knots play the most impor- 

 tant part in tuberculosis ; it is these that grow and multiply, and 

 represent the miliary tubercles. 



Finally, in respect of the lymphatic vessels, Klebs has declared that 

 the lymphatic vessels play an important part in artificial tuberculosis ; 

 since the endothelium of the lymphatic vessels proliferates ; the young 

 cells originating thus compose the tubercle-knot. 



We have already had an opportunity of pointing out in the first 

 chapter, that on the serous membranes in certain regions, there is 



