THE LIVER. 691 



with higher powers, are shown to be narrow, spindle-shaped elements, the 

 arrangement of which in rows produces the fibrous appearance. At first this 

 tissue has but little basis-substance, and the spindles exhibit a delicate 

 granulation, owing to the presence of the reticulum of living matter. The 

 greater the amount of firm basis-substance present, and the more nearly 

 the connective tissue resembles cicatricial tissue, the more its striated or 

 fibrous character becomes apparent, although in these places the primary 

 spindle shape of the elements may still be recognized. 



I have demonstrated that the transition of epithelium into connective 

 tissue takes place, and I further maintain that the living material of the epi- 

 thelia, under anomalous conditions, is capable of proliferation, and the result 

 of this proliferation is connective tissue. (See Fig. 307.) 



The relation between the liver epithelia and connective tissue in the pro- 

 cess of cirrhosis has repeatedly been the subject of study. 



C. Eokitansky * says that the reticula of the liver-cells become pale, and 

 finally disappear in a reddish-gray or grayish mass of connective tissue. In his 

 view the liver-cells first become cloudy, afterward shrivel and disintegrate into 

 a detritus mixed with granules of bile-pigment, which at last disappears also. 



Holint and Hiittenbrenner t maintained that in traumatic inflammation 

 the liver may be directly converted into connective-tissue cells. 



Rindfleisch likewise assumed that, in the formation of the frame of 

 cancer, a transformation of liver-cells into connective tissue takes place. 



A. WiniwarterJ on the contrary, is convinced that, at least in the human 

 liver, the epithelia are never changed into connective-tissue cells, but that 

 the epithelia simply perish, and all the newly appearing connective tissue 

 originates from the interlobular connective tissue of the liver. 



Hiittenbrenner, by inserting a needle into the liver-tissue, has caused, 

 around the circumference of the needle, transformation of the liver epithelia 

 into spindle-shaped bodies. Very likely it is merely the mechanical pressure, 

 which, in the vicinity of sarcoma or carcinoma nodules, leads to the spindle 

 shape of epithelia. In cirrhotic livers such spindles are of not infrequent 

 occurrence, and it is possible that they may be compressed liver epithelia ; 

 but they are never the elements of connective tissue directly arisen from the 

 epithelia. Where such a transformation occurs, it invariably is brought 

 about through the intermediate stage of endogenous new formation of living 

 matter in the epithelia, and by the subsequent division of the latter. In the 

 vicinity of shriveled lobules, in the midst of the connective tissue, we occa- 

 sionally see spindle-shaped clusters of epithelia. It is quite possible that 

 these comparatively little changed groups have escaped the process of trans- 

 formation, as is indicated by their brownish-yellow color. On the other 

 hand, the assumption is admissible that they are the remains of the endo- 

 thelia of larger blood-vessels, or of the epithelia of bile-ducts. (See Fig. 

 308). 



Fatty degeneration is of common occurrence in cirrhotic livers. We often 

 see in an epithelial body, globules which, after being treated with strong 

 alcohol, leave empty spaces ; or sometimes, within the epithelium, small fat- 



Lehrbuch der Pathol. Anatomic," 1861. 

 ' Sitzungsber. d. Wiener Akad. d. Wissensch.," 1867. 

 ' Arcliiv f. Mikroskop. Anatomic," Bd. v. 

 ' Lehrbuch der Pathol. Gewebelehre," 1873. 

 ' Wiener Mediz. Jahrbucher," 1872. 



