DEGENERATION OF TISSUES 177 



Thus, when it is fully understood and appreciated that 

 every texture innervated by the systemic nervous system 

 is likewise nourished by it, it will at once become obvious 

 that any interference with either of these phenomena will 

 of necessity be followed by altered innervation or nutri- 

 tion, or both, of the textures involved, and will show 

 the same, whether it be by deprivation, exaggeration, or 

 perversion, of one or either, or both. It, therefore, 

 follows from this that an entirely healthy condition of the 

 factors engaged in systemic innervation and nutrition must 

 of necessity be followed by an absolutely physiological 

 fulfilment of these functions, while a disturbed or patho- 

 logical condition of them will in like manner be followed 

 by a pathological or imperfect manner of functional per- 

 formance, which will manifest itself by the evolution of 

 one or other of the structural states known as atrophy and 

 hypertrophy, and, it may be, degeneration, which latter, 

 however, may occur primarily or follow as a consequence 

 of either atrophy or hypertrophy. Atrophy thus must 

 follow neuro-plasmic failure in proportion to the complete- 

 ness of the latter, and may vary in degree, consequently, 

 according as the plasmic deprivation is partial or complete, 

 therefore, the affected musculature and the implicated 

 cutaneous areas will show by their trophic behaviour the 

 extent of the neuro-plasmic failure, and so indicate to us 

 whether the existent condition is partial and curable or 

 complete and incurable. Moreover, it may be possible, 

 by close observation of the incidence and sequence of the 

 phenomena of atrophy, to determine to some extent 

 whether they have originated in the affected muscular and 

 dermal structures and areas or whether they have been 

 initiated by central or connective changes, implicating the 

 dendronal cell or axonal elements respectively, and thus, 

 consequently, it may be possible for us to prescribe a 

 remedial or ameliorative treatment on more scientific lines 

 than those of the best directed empiricism. 



Hypertrophy, like atrophy, follows the trophic disposal 

 of neuro-plasm, but, unlike it, is due to its exaggerated 

 distribution, circulation, and assimilation, which latter 

 the assimilation being in excess of the spatial capabilities 

 and requirements of the affected musculature and neuro- 



