312 MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE TEETH 



produces other buds, and that there is a growth or pro- 

 liferation of these buds within the follicle. 



He divides these epithelial products into three principal 

 groups, including those found in the connective tissue of 

 the capsule between the follicle and the surface : 



1. A superficial group attached to the deep surface of the 

 epithelium of the gum. 



2. An intermediary group situated between the mucous 

 membrane and the follicle. 



3. A deep group connected with the enamel organ. 

 Under the first group he includes products composed of 



cells of the Malpighian type and other club-like collections 

 and strands of cells which have a cylindrical form. 



In this layer are found the epithelial bodies spoken of by 

 the French authors as ' globes epidermiques '. These have 

 been further studied by Warwick James in a paper on 

 the eruption of the teeth (5), who gives them the more 

 descriptive term of ' epithelial coils '. These coils appear 

 to originate from the club -like cell accumulations which 

 bear a strong resemblance to the cell nests in epithelioma, 

 and can be seen in various stages of transition in the epithelial 

 coils. 



In the later condition of the epithelial coil it is difficult 

 to trace in its structure any indication of the epithelial 

 cells, and it has more the appearance of being made up of 

 concentric layers of a delicate connective tissue, but the 

 stages of development shown in figs. 202, 203, 204, make its 

 epithelial nature quite evident. These epithelial coils open 

 out more and more until at last, near the surface of the 

 gum, the concentric striae have disappeared, and they merely 

 remain a's wide spaces in the connective tissue and open on 

 the gum surface. 



Warwick James considers they take an important part 

 in the eruption of the temporary teeth, causing the tissues 

 to give way and open out to form a channel for the 

 erupting tooth. A similar function is assigned by Malassez 

 to the epithelial strands found in the gubernaculum of the 

 permanent teeth (see p. 21). It is probably these bodies 

 in the gum which Serres described as glands. 



The intermediary group is situated between the mucous 



