ALIMENTAEY CANAL, ETC., OF AMIURUS CATUS. 399 



The cell is long and slender, passing down into a smooth, delicate 

 process, imbedded in the tissue of the mucosa. In transverse sec- 

 tion, it is irregularly six-sided, the membrane of which, if there is 

 one, is approximated to those of the neighbouring cells in such a 

 manner as to surrender its appearance of being a structure inde- 

 pendent of the substance cementing the cells together, which 

 cementing substance Edinger 1 indeed believes it to be. Maceration 

 by various methods, however, produces isolated cells provided with 

 a distinct membrane at every point, except at the peripheral end. 



In the crypts into which the peptic glands open, these cells are 

 ■slightly shorter and broader, the mucigenous portion being more 

 distinctly marked in osmic acid specimens. In these crypts, and 

 especially towards the pyloris, there is another variety of cells, few 

 in number it is true, but quite distinct from the previously described 

 cell. They are slightly swollen in their outer halves, their basal 

 processes are short, and the whole cell is not acted on by osmic acid, 

 but remains clear and distinct while the surrounding cells are very 

 much darkened. These cells are grouped in twos and threes, here 

 and there. 



Peptic glands are absent only in the pylorus. From four to ten, 

 or more, may open in one crypt of the membrane lined by cylinder 

 cells. Several glands may open by one common neck into the crypt, 

 but branching never occurs below the neck in the body or base of 

 the gland. Each consists of three portions, a neck, by which it is 

 attached to the surface crypt, a body, and a base. In all three parts 

 the cells differ considerably in shape and structure, but pass into one 

 another generally. Those of the neck form the ' Schaltstiicken ' of 

 Rollet, and are transitional between those of the crypt and those of 

 the body of the gland. They are subcubical in shape, and finely 

 granular in contents, like cylinder cells or those of the crypt. 

 Although the transverse diameter of the gland is narrowest at this 

 point, yet the lumen is quite distinct. The cells of the body of the 

 gland are cubical or rhomboidal in longitudinal section of the gland, 

 and are provided at their inner lower edges with a process which 

 overlaps tile-fashion the cell next below. The nucleus is large, oval, 

 and situated in the inner half of each cell, while large coarse granules 

 abound in all parts, but principally in the outer half. These granules 



i Arrtiiv fur Mikr. Anat. Bd. XIV. 



