GLANDULAH CARCINOMATA. 183 



I. Glandular Cap.cinojiata. 



§ 149. Is there any such thing as an undoubted true hyper- 

 trophy of glands? If our definition of " true glandular hyper- 

 trophy" inY-)lves — 1st, an absolute agreement with normal glands 

 in structure md composition ; 2nd, a proportionate increase in 

 functional acivity — then indeed the term would have to be con- 

 fined to the hypertrophy which the mammary gland undergoes 

 during lactati)n, and to those uniform enlargements of one 

 kidney, or of ingle lobes of the liver, which have long been 

 known as ^' cenpensatory hypertrophies," inasmuch as they 

 usually follow oliteration of the other kidney, or of the remainder 

 of the hepatic pi^enchyma. In such cases the tubuli uriniferi 

 are elongated, t-e number of hepatic cells in each acinus is 

 increased, and the capillary network undergoes a corresponding 

 extension ; so tha it is only wdth the naked eje that we can 

 estimate the incrased bulk of the renal fasciculi or of the 

 hepatic lobules, themicroscope serving merely to establish their 

 perfect conformity > the normal type. As regards the hyper- 

 trophy of the mamn.ry gland in lactation, I must refer the reader 

 to the appropriate seiions of the Special Part of the present work. 

 § 150. All otherforms of so-called glandular hypertrophy 

 diverge in some way)r other from the normal standard. First, 

 we have a group of^ases, with regard to which we are never 

 sure what proportion f the total enlargement should be ascribed 

 to morbid overgrowt of the gland-tubuli, and what to their 

 coincident dilatation. To this group belongs the hypertrophy of 

 the mucous follicles ii^atarrh of the stomach and large intes- 

 tine, of the trachea ai bronchi. Tlie proliferation of the sub- 

 epithelial layer of conn tive tissue which invariably accompanies 

 every catarrhal inflamation of a mucous membrane leads to 

 compression and closur^f the ducts which penetrate it, and so 

 hinders the free dischai) of the secretions ; a certain degree of 

 dilatation of the follich due to retention of secreted matters, 

 thus contributing to thtrross result. As compared with this, 

 the independent growtlof the glands, i.e. the growth due to 

 fission of their epithelialements, plays a more or less subordi- 

 nate part. It may coi^ie itself to furnishing the necessaiy 

 epithelial lining for the and as it gradually degenerates into 

 a mucous cyst. Cases ofliis sort are analogous to atheromata 



