THE LIVEE. 705 



showing, with high powers of the microscope, a scanty reticulum of bioplasson 

 in clusters, which are separated from each other by narrow, light rims, though 

 still interconnected by delicate, grayish filaments. In most places the tracts 

 of the former fibrous connective tissue could be recognized only by the rows 

 of such split-up medullary corpuscles. 



The bile-ducts in the interstitial tissue were well preserved, still being 

 lined by columnar epithelium, both in longitudinal and transverse sections ; 

 but their calibers were invariably compressed. Further changes of the epi- 

 thelia of the bile-duct consisted in the disappearance of the nucleus and in 

 the division of the epithelia, partly into homogeneous, shining, partly into 

 finely granular lumps, which, by their regular arrangement in rows, reminded 

 one of their origin. At last ; all differences between lumps sprung from con- 

 nective tissue, and those arisen from bile-ducts, faded away. 



The lobules of the liver were considerably reduced in size ; in some places 

 to one-half, to one-third, to one-tenth of the former diameter. This was the 

 result of the transformation of the liver epithelia into medullary corpuscles, 

 as is observed in inflammation generally. The gradual changes of the epi- 

 thelia resulting in this destruction were as follows : First, the nucleus becomes 

 invisible, due, as revealed by high amplifications, to its splitting up into a 

 reticulum similar to that constructing the epithelial body. Next, the ledges 

 of cement-substance between the epithelia disappear, and a number of epi- 

 thelia coalesce into granular masses containing a varying number of granules 

 and globules of fat. In this stage the rows of liver epithelia are still seen. 

 With higher powers we recognize the granulation of epithelia to be due to 

 the presence of their bioplasson reticulum, which is very much more marked 

 than in the normal condition. This distinctness of the reticulum is due to 

 an increase of the size of the meshes and a scanty new formation of bioplas- 

 son within the epithelia ; in fact, coarse granules of bioplasson, and homoge- 

 neous, shining lumps, are found in them exceptionally only. The next step 

 in the destruction of the epithelia is that within the cluster new lines of divi- 

 sion appear, dividing the clusters into numerous, irregular medullary ele- 

 ments, all of which are composed of rarefied bioplasson reticulum, and none 

 of which have a nucleus. (See Fig. 316.) 



In some lobules, likewise decreased in size, the blood-vessels were en- 

 gorged and the interstitial tissue crowded with red blood-corpuscles. The 

 changes of the epithelia of such lobules were the same as before described. 

 As the engorgement of the capillaries and the extravasation of blood in some 

 places occupied quite extensive fields, I cannot help suggesting that what the 

 authors have termed "red atrophy" of the liver, combined with " yellow 

 atrophy," is due only to the engorgement of the blood-vessels and an extra- 

 vasation of blood. 



In the highest degrees of the disease the lobules of the liver had entirely 

 disappeared, and, as a residue of the former liver-tissue, nothing was left but 

 an accumulation of medullary corpuscles, or particles of varying sizes, be- 

 tween which were seen small tracts composed of spindles, besides a varying 

 number of fat-globules. The most marked feature of this tissue was the 

 absence of new formation of living matter. Indeed, only a few larger lumps, 

 composed of a somewhat coarser reticulum of bioplasson, could be seen, while 

 the main mass was an aggregation of small lumps, indistinctly bordered by 

 light interstices, and marked by the absence of nuclei and the presence of an 



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