1 84 STATE OF CAPILLARIES 



In Figs. 82, 89, the vessels have not wasted to the 

 same degree, but their outline is irregular, and they 

 are filled with an almost colourless material. A greater 

 quantity of the tissue of the villus remains in the 

 meshes of the capillaries in Fig. 87 than in Fig. 90. 

 It is clear that the blood could not have circulated 

 at all in these vessels for some time before death. 

 Any blood that remained stagnant in the larger ones 

 had become altered. Its colouring matter had dis- 

 appeared, proving that many days had elapsed since 

 the obstruction had first occurred. Those consti- 

 tuents of the tissues which were incapable of absorp- 

 tion have undergone great change. Among the 

 resulting products is fatty matter in considerable 

 quantity (Fig. 88). 



In some cases there was demonstrative proof that 

 some time before death blood had actually passed 

 through the capillary walls into the surrounding tex- 

 tures. Crystals of haematoidin, as well as oil-globules, 

 were found in considerable number in this situation, as 

 represented in Fig. 88. This circumstance proves that 

 the villus had not been in a healthy condition, even 

 for some time before the attack. 



Villi exhibiting the structural alterations de- 

 scribed cannot be organs of absorption. Neither could 

 secretion have taken place from the follicles. The 

 passage of fluid out of the vessels must have ceased 

 long before they became reduced to the state figured. 

 They must now be regarded as mere processes of de- 



