TYPHUS. 441 



2iucleus. The ^^ typhous'' cell represents the first step towards, 

 as it were a foreshadowing of, epithelial differentiation : it would 

 seem, however, as though this augmentation of the protoplasm 

 lacked the solidity and durability of epithelial development, inas- 

 much as the "typhous" cells remain but a short while at their 

 acme, and speedily fall a prey to necrobiotic change. 



Fhially, as regards the peculiar rosy, homogeneous tint of 

 the entire mass, it is explained by the dark-red hue of the 

 turgid capillary netw^ork being toned down to a uniform flesh- 

 colour, bv the homoo-eneous medium throuo:li which we sec it. 



§ 379. The anatomical alterations culminate in medullary 

 infiltration. This "is followed by retrograde metamorphoses, 

 which may set in in diverse ways. The great majority of the 

 infiltrated patches gradually return to their normal state by a 

 ^^colliquative softening.*' The " typhous " cells become disin- 

 tegrated into oily dthris^ which are absorbed as chyle. There- 

 upon the swelling disappears, the follicles being the first to sub- 

 side ; the Peyer's patch presents a reticulated aspect (surface 

 reticulee) owing to the collapse of the follicles ; the little hollows 

 which correspond to them forming the meshes of a network, 

 whose trabeculas are represented by the interstitial connective 

 tissue which still continues infiltrated. When the latter is also 

 freed from the infiltrated products, nothing more remains to be 

 done save a gradual restitution of the lost parts, which appears 

 to begin at once. 



§ 380. But this " colliquative softening " is not the only way 

 in which the morbid products may be got rid of; another and a 

 more severe issue, is " sloughing '* of the deposit. We found 

 that nearly all the lymphatic structures in the wall of the alimen- 

 tary canal were implicated during the catarrhal stage ; we found 

 u marked limitation and concentration of the process in the stage 

 i^{ medullary infiltration ; now in the stage of sloughing, a further 

 and much the most striking reduction in the extent of the mor- 

 bid process, takes place. Small portions of single Feyerian 

 patches, portions varying from a lentil to a size of from three- 

 fourths to five-fourths of an inch, with here and there a solitary 

 gland, assume a yellowish-white, opaque tint instead of their 

 former reddish and tran>hicent aspect ; they are detached from 

 the surrounding tissue by a sharp line of demarcation, and then 

 pass into a state of cheesy necrosi-. When once this hns occurred, 



