Amoeboid cells in intestinal absorption. 13 



quite small near the attached end of the cell. Sometimes the greater 

 part of the fat is accumulated in the inner, sometimes in the outer 

 half of the cell, these conditions probably representing different 

 stages in its absorption. The larger globules often appear com- 

 posed in part of a non-fatty material, for in osmic preparations 

 the darkly stained fatty matter sometimes appears to Surround a 

 clear space or vacuole, being generally coUected in greater amount 

 at one side of the space (fig. 5). The appearances shown in different 

 preparations are such as to indicate a primary accumulation of fat 

 in the inner or free half of the cell and its gradual passage down 

 into the outer or attached half, accompanied by the breaking down 

 of the larger globules into smaller ones. 



My observations do not throw any light upon the manner in 

 which the fatty particles find admission into the epithelium cells. I 

 have never seen a fat globule in the substance of the striated border ; 

 although such an appearance should be of frequent occurrence if it 

 be the fact that the globules pass directly as such through this border 

 as is generally supposed, and as we should probably be constrained to 

 admit if the free border of the epithelium cell is really amoeboid. 



On the other band we know that the fats are not only emulsi- 

 fied but also partially split up in the intestine or even in the stomach 

 into glycerine or fatty acids'); and further that these substances are 

 in great measure recomposed luto fat within the epithelium cells or 

 in the tissue of the villi. '^) If this should occur normally to any ex- 

 tent, the constituents of the fat might well pass into the cells by 

 imbibition in the same way as other aliment. 



For the present however I wül be satisfied with afflrming the 

 presence of fat within the cells without endeavouring to solve the 

 question as to its means of entry. This affirmation however only 

 holds good "during active fat absorption especially if the amount of 



') Th. Casb, Über den Antheil des Magens und des Pancreas an der Verdauung 

 der Fette. Arch. f. Anat. u. Pbysiol. Pbysiol. Abth. 1880, S. 323. 



") Perewoznikoff, Zur Frage v. d. Synthese des Fettes. Centraibl. f. d. medic. 

 Wissensch. 1876, S. 851. I. Munk, Zur Lebre v. d. Fettresorption etc. Vircb. 

 Archiv, XCV, S. 409. Munk is of opiniou that a synthesis of fats takes place in 

 the lymph-oorpuscles of the villi. 



