142 



SIMPLE HISTOLOGICAL ELEMENTS. 



6 7 



Elements liable to be mistaken for Cancer-cells. 



It is important, in this connection, to specify the histological ele- 

 ments which may be mistaken by the microscopist for the cancer- 

 cells just described ; though, with the exception of the first two, the 

 distinction is easily made at a glance. 



1. The fusiform corpuscles of fibro-plastic tissue 1 are often as much 

 as _j_ to 77^5 of an inch long. Their comparative narrowness, the 



smallness of their nuclei, the nucleolus, 

 p ig> 86. an d, indeed, their whole aspect, distin- 



guish them from cancer-cells. They 

 have already been shown by Fig. 82. 



J-i8& < ^F :-W/J 2. The fibro-plastic cells and their free 



nuclei (Fig. 8(5) may be mistaken for 

 cancer-cells by a superficial observer. 

 These cells are ovoid, sometimes poly- 

 gonal, and vary from -g^ to T eV<j of 

 an inch in diameter. The nucleus and 

 nucleolus, however, appear different 



Spherical fibro-plastic cells 6. Well- from those Q f cancer and the granu l es 

 marked cell. 7 and 8. Nuclei inclosed , . i r. n 



in ceiis or floating free; transverse dia- they contain are very much finer and 

 meter, i-soooth inch. of more uniform size. The free nuclei 



are so much smaller as to be at once 

 Fig- 87. recognized. 



Both of the fibro-plastic elements just 

 mentioned are found in the brain, blad- 

 der, ovaries, mammary gland, uterus, &c., 

 and in the healthy state as well as in 

 inflammatory products. These will also 

 be found with cancer-cells, if inflam- 

 mation has existed in a cancerous de- 



posit. 



^' ^" r ' Bennett thinks that the cells 

 escaping from the cavities of enchondro- 

 matous tumors, while they are softening, 

 may be mistaken for cancer-cells. Dr. 

 Donaldson does not accept this as pro- 

 bable. 



4. Nor can pus-corpuscles be mis- 

 taken for cancer-cells, though often 

 found mixed with the latter. 



5. The appearance of tubercle-corpus- 

 cles, as contrasted with cancer-cells, is 



shown in Fig. 87. The former were, however, magnified 833 times, 

 the cancer-cells but 555 times. 



6. The contrast between epithelial cells in different stages of de- 



1 This is a phrase applied to the fibres, cells, &c., developed in exuded plasma, 

 generally in case of inflammation. 



Tubercle-corpuscles (nuclei) distin- 

 guishedfrom cancer. 1. Corpuscles found 

 in softened tubercular matter ; small, 

 irregularly formed, globular bodies with 

 many nucleoli. 2. Nucleoli and inte- 

 rior granules. 3. Free, loose granules. 



