216 LECTURE IX. 



brae (Spondylarthocace), cold abscesses, etc. In all 

 these cases the reabsorption is at an end as soon as the 

 fluid has disappeared. Herein consists the evil import 

 of these processes. For the solid parts which are not 

 reabsorbed, either remain lying in the part as such, or 

 they may afterwards soften, in which case, however, they 

 do not usually undergo reabsorption, but for the most 

 part give rise to ulceration. At all events what is reab- 

 sorbed is not pus, but a simple fluid composed in great 

 part of water, a few salts, and a very small quantity of 

 albuminous matter, and there can be no question but 

 that we have here presented to us one of the most incom- 

 plete forms of reabsorption. 



The second form of purulent reabsorption is that which 

 constitutes the most favourable case, when the pus really 

 disappears and no essential part of it need remain be- 

 hind. But here too the pus is not reabsorbed as pus, 

 but first undergoes a fatty metamorphosis ; every single 

 cell sets fatty particles free within it, 

 a breaks up and at last nothing further 



(iHl ^ remains than fatty granules and inter- 



vening fluid. Then therefore there exist 

 no longer either cells or pus ; and their 

 place is occupied by an emulsive mass, a 

 kind of milk, composed of water, some albuminous mat- 

 ter and fat, and in which even sugar has on various occa- 

 sions been demonstrated, whereby a still greater analogy 

 with real milk is brought about. It is this pathological 

 milk which afterwards comes to be reabsorbed once 

 more therefore not pus, but fat, water, and salts. These 

 are the processes which may be denominated " physiolo- 



Fig. 66. Pus engaged in retrograde fatty metamorphosis (fatty 'degeneration), a. 

 Commencement of the change, b. Fat-granule cells with nuclei still distinct. 

 c. Granule-globule (inflammatory globule), d. Disintegration of the globule, e. 

 Emulsion, milky debris. 350 diameters. 



