Q(j FATTY INFILTEATION. 



neither abundant nor concentrated, nor yet as brown in colour 

 as it should be. The function of the organ is impaired, but not 

 even in the most extreme degrees of the disorder is it wholly 

 abolished. It need hardly be added that after the removal of 

 the infiltrated substance, a removal which, as has been already 

 stated, is everywhere and always within the bounds of possibility, 

 the cells resume their interrupted functions, together with their 

 previous form. 



§ Q2. We cannot certainly tell to what peculiarities it is due 

 that the protoplasm of cells generally, and the protoplasm of 

 certain cells in particular, is qualified to become a reservoir of 

 oily matter. That the presence of glycocholate and taurocho- 

 late of soda renders animal tissues especially prone to be infiltrated 

 with oil, is proved partly by experiment, partly by observation ; 

 since the parts which come in contact with the bile during its 

 passage from the intercellular canals of the hepatic parenchyma 

 to the large intestine, constantly exhibit the phenomena of fatty 

 infiltration. 



But contact with bile can only be considered as one of the 

 factors in causing the infiltration. A second condition is that 

 fatty matter in a finely-divided state should be readily accessible 

 in the neighbourhood of the tissue to be infiltrated. The source 

 of this fatty matter is a question of vital moment for the economy 

 of the organism as a whole, but it is unimportant as regards the 

 process itself Thus in the bowel, we find it supplied by the 

 chyme ; the hepatic cells absorb it from the serum of the blood, 

 and the epithelium of the biliary passages from the bile itself (as 

 has been shown by VircJiow). We cannot, therefore, entertain 

 the slightest doubt that saturation with bile is a powerful deter- 

 mining cause of fatty infiltration. Besides the hepatic cells, 

 the epithelium of tlie biliar}- duets and of the bowel, other 

 cells in the organism are liable to become infiltrated ; foremost 

 among these are the corpuscular elements of the connective 

 tissue, which is converted into adipose tissue in this manner. 

 The subcutaneous and subserous connective tissue stands first 

 in this respect; next comes the interstitial connective tissue 

 of muscles, and of those especially which are seldom tln'own into 

 contraction, or are maintained in a state of rest by disease 

 (ankylosis of joints, paralysis) ; and lastly, the subfascial, sub- 

 synovial, and submucous connective tissues. 



