INFLAMMATION OF ARTERIES AND VEINS. 253 



attained larger dimensions bj the progressive liquefaction of the 

 indurated tissue, should it e.g. be separated from the blood- 

 current by only a thin layer of unaltered intima, we call it an 

 atlieromatous abscess. When this layer at last gives way at its 

 thinnest part, the pulp mingles with the circulating fluid, the 

 base of the " focus of softening " is laid bare and we have an 

 atheromatous ulcer. (For continuation see next section.) 



Figs. 80 and 81 are meant to elucidate the histological de- 

 tails of atheromatous change. In fig. 81 we see, under a high 

 power, that the fatty metamorphosis of the cells of the intima 

 presents itself as a distension of the stellate interstices of its con- 

 nective tissue with oil-globules. It would seem however, as 

 though these preformed lacunas were the depositaries of all the 



Connective- tissue corpuscles of the intima in a state of fatty 

 degeneration. 5^. 



fatty debris, including those derived from the younger and more 

 scattered cells, since a vertical section through an atheromatous 

 abscess (fig. 80) shows the oily dehns to be infiltrated into fusi- 

 form spaces, separating the contiguous lamella} of the intima 

 from one another. These fusiform cavities undoubtedly cor- 

 respond in position to those points at which the cells are inter- 

 calated between the lamellas of the intima (fig. 79). The greater 

 the amount of oily debris, the longer and the thicker (in trans- 

 verse sections) grow the spindle-shaped cavities ; the lamellse are 

 forced farther and farther apart, and are finally softened and 

 disintegrated; whereupon the oily matters forthwith unite to 

 form a greasy pulp which fills the cavity due to softening 

 (Erweichungshohle). (Fig. 80, d.) 



§ 218. Tlie form and size of atheromatous ulcers naturally 

 vary quite as much as those of the indurated sweUings which 



