70 ANATOMY OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



tion. When all these conditions are absent, we may perhaps, as long 

 as the growth has not reached too great an intensity, be able from its 

 distribution and position to conclude that we have to do with a 

 germination around the stomata. We shall, however, not undertake 

 to make such a diagnosis where we find a large patch of germinating 

 endothelium raised considerably over the surface, and covering nearly 

 a whole field under the microscope. On a preparation which presents 

 the appearances previously described there are to be seen many 

 lymphatic vessels of the peritoneal surface of the centrum tendineum 

 more or less filled with young cells, and widely distended. In a 

 vessel of this kind, provided it is only partly filled with cells, we may 

 recognise some of the latter as being products of endothelial cells on 

 account of their size, nucleus, and granulation. At the same time 

 it can be made out, in one place or another, that a growth of the 

 endothelium of a stoma is going on into the lumen of the lymphatic 

 capillary in the form of a cone of young cells projecting free into its 

 lumen, whereas the endothelial cells which represent the wall of the 

 lymphatic are seen to be enlarged, distinctly granular, and their nuclei 

 in the act of division. There cannot be the least doubt that (1) the 

 changes and the growth of the endothelium round the stomata 

 spread over the endothelium of that portion of the lymphatic vessel 

 to which the stoma corresponds, and (2) that the young cells which 

 result from the growth of the endothelium of the stoma fall partly 

 into the corresponding lymphatic vessel, and partly into the abdo- 

 minal cavity. 



I may now briefly describe the germination of the endothelium 

 round the true stomata of the omentum of the guinea-pig. We have 

 previously mentioned that those stomata occur abundantly on the 

 lymphatic vessels of the omentum, and it may be simply stated in 

 this place that the germination of their endothelium in animals 

 which have become tuberculised from the abdominal cavity pro- 

 ceeds in the same way as in the centrum tendineum. I refer to Figs. 

 42 and 45, where undoubtedly the fact comes out that the young 

 cells become detached into the lymphatic vessels. In order to become 

 acquainted with these conditions, it is necessary not to confine one's self 

 to parts far advanced in the morbid process, because on them the 



