AND ITS MULTIPLICATION. 



119 



increased rate of access of nutrient material to the 

 living matter is the necessary condition of its increase. 

 The living matter always tends to increase, but in the 

 normal state of things it is only permitted to do so at 

 a certain regular rate, which is determined by the 

 even distribution and somewhat limited access of the 

 nutrient material. 



In certain cases in which an increased proportion of 

 nutrient material is distributed to the epithelium of 

 the mucous membrane, as, for example, to that of 

 the fauces, the young epithelial cells grow and 

 multiply so rapidly that the superficial layers of older 

 and hardened structure become detached, and upon 

 the free surface is produced a thick layer of soft, 

 spongy, epithelial elements, with, in many instances, 

 but faint indications of division into individual epithe- 

 lial particles, Fig. 42, plate X. In fact, under the 

 circumstances alluded to, growth takes place too 

 rapidly for the formation of the characteristic hardened 

 epithelial texture, though the changes are not so 

 rapid as to lead to the formation of actual pus. The 

 spongy texture produced may be regarded as occupy- 

 ing a position midway between healthy epithelial 

 tissue and the pathological bioplasm, pus. I have 

 examined the young rapidly-growing, but as yet im- 

 perfectly-formed epithelial particles, in specimens 

 taken from the surface of the pharynx in a case of 

 slight sore-throat coming on in a person enjoying 

 ordinarily good health ; some of these are represented 



K 2 



