202 Retrogressive Processes. 



a concentric marking in section, and reminding one of the well- 

 known corpora amylacea, but not responding to amyloid reagents, 

 are occasionally met, especially along the blood vessels ; these have 

 the appearance of hyaline matter and are tentatively classed with 

 this type of degeneration. \\'ithin the cells as well as between 

 them, in a number of tumors small globular masses responding to 

 the acid aniline dyes and having a hyaline appearance are not in- 

 frequently seen (Russel's acid fuchsin bodies) ; they were, when 

 first noted, interpreted by some as of parasitic nature, but are now 

 looked upon as a degenerated substance. The same bodies are not 

 very uncommon within the various cells, as those of the liver or 

 kidneys, in animals not subjects of neoplasms (intracellular 

 hyaline). 



From the fact that these and even other examples are all re- 

 ferred to this process the confusion in our prevailing ideas must 

 be evident. The term "hyaloid" is often employed in order to 

 evade somewhat this confusion, when it is sought to describe a 

 clear, uniform, structureless substance suggesting true hyaline, 

 but not giving perfect staining reactions and not corresponding 

 chemically with amyloid, mucinous or colloid matter. 



The cause of the change in a broad sense includes disturbances 

 of nutrition and the influence of local intoxications, but the details 

 of the action of these and of the development of hyaline and hya- 

 loid substances are confused and largely wanting. The change is 

 probably often that of a true coagulation necrosis; in some forms 

 it involves further alterations of coagulated matter: in others it 

 evidently does not mean the necrosis of the cells involved, but by its 

 advance leads to their death, and is thus rather a true metamorpho- 

 sis. When tissues are the seat of this change in its complete devel- 

 opment they are entirely functionless and dead ; and the hyaline 

 material after a variable time becomes the seat of fatty degeneration, 

 usually advancing to caseation and either softening or becoming 

 the set of terminal calcification. There is no evidence that indi- 

 vidual cells containing small globules of hyaline substance are 

 seriously incommoded by it, although the part of the cellular pro- 

 toplasm thus aflfected is probably useless and if the cells be greatly 

 involved it is probably eventually a serious lesion.] 



Mucoid Degeneration. 



The mucus or nmcin which is secreted by the mucous glands 

 of mucous memln-anes and is normally found in tendon sheaths, 



