124 SPECIAL HISTOLOGY. 



the transverse fissure, where the glandular networks are con- 

 nected with both branches of the biliary ducts. In opposition 

 to these views, Weber, in his latest work, adheres to his former 

 interpretation and shows, against Theile, that mucous glands 

 and their ducts form networks and connect the ducts of other 

 glands nowhere else ; furthermore, that in the new-born infant, 

 although the network of the biliary ducts exists in the trans- 

 verse fissure, those branches which terminate in enlarged 

 extremities are almost entirely absent. 



The relations of the finest ramifications of the hepatic 

 ducts, or of the ductus interlobulares of Kiernan, have not yet 

 been perfectly made out, a subject which gave rise to many 

 remarks in the previous section. I will only add here, that 

 some, as more especially Guillot, suppose, not only that the 

 ductus interlobulares anastomose, but also that their branches 

 are inter-connected in many ways, whilst others, as Theile, 

 describe their communications as scanty. For myself, 

 though I have observed anastomoses of the interlobular ducts, 

 I have as yet met with no communications between their 

 branches, which, though they do not enter the hepatic islets, 

 may be called lobular branches. If they occur, they are cer- 

 tainly few in number, for such branches may be isolated for a 

 considerable distance, without any other trunks being seen 

 either to be given off from or to join them. Upon the whole, 

 the interlobular branches are anything but abundantly distri- 

 buted and, therefore, the slowness of the biliary secretion is 

 determined, not only by the peculiar structure of the hepatic 

 parenchyma, but also by the small number of the excreting 

 canals. 



The bile is normally quite fluid, being only accidentally 

 mixed with cylindrical epithelium-cells, derived from the 

 coarser biliary ducts. I have never met with hepatic cells in 

 them and the statements of those who have affirmed their 

 existence have arisen, either from a mistake, or from confound- 

 ing with them the polygonal cells of the epithelium of the 

 ductus interlobulares. Constituents which, though abnormal, 

 are very frequent, are — fat- drops, colouring matter of the bile 

 in granules or granular masses, which, as in the hepatic cells, 

 so also in the bile itself, are, occasionally, abundantly excreted ; 

 more rarely there are crystals of cholesterine, and especially 



