36 Nature of the Formative Stimulus 



most intense flux and the zone of reproduction thereby 

 determined will approach the center of the wound. 



The tangential disposition of the cells of the circular 

 zone between the reproductive zone and the central 

 granular zone, would be due just to this nervous flux 

 which commences to flow through the new formed cells, 

 but is still always forced to flow around the wound in 

 some such way as the water of a river flows around 

 the circular pier of a bridge. The direction of the cell 

 axis would thus be determined by the direction of the 

 current. 



According to Siegfried Garten's views, on the con- 

 trary, there would exist all around the wound, in spite 

 of the aseptic dressing, an augmentation of the blood 

 circulation, which would have as its consequence an 

 increase of pressure and of the amount of nutritive 

 fluid in the tissue. And consequently there would arise 

 an augmentation of volume of the intercellular spaces 

 and an increased formation of new cells in the reproduc- 

 tive zone. As for the tangential disposition of the cells 

 of the surrounding zone, he believes that one can explain 

 that by the theory of sphincter action, that is through 

 the contraction of the intercellular bridges of these cells. 

 In consequence of this contraction the long axis of the 

 cells would turn into the direction of the tractile force 

 which is exercised upon the cells. At the same time the 

 consequent shortening of the respective circular zones of 

 these cells w r ould cause the epithelium to press in toward 

 the center of the granulating surface, and thereby effect 

 the gradual contraction of the opening of the wound. 13 



But the increased blood supply and the shortening 



"Siegfried Garten: Ibid. P. 409411. 



