202 \'i;terixarv PATiioL(jGy. 



temperature is at least a predisposing if not an exciting cause 

 of cloud)' swelling. 



Appearance. — Macroscopic. — An organ or part aliected with 

 cloudy s\\-elling, has a parboiled appearance, it is lusterless and 

 lighter in color, softer in consistency, and is slightly enlarged. 



Microscopic. — An organ or part affected with cloudy swelling 

 appear cloudy, because of the presence of man}^ small albuminous 

 granules, and the cells are slightly enlarged, hence the name 

 cloudy swelling. The increased size of the cell results from co- 

 agulation, the coagula occupying more space than the non-coag- 

 ulated protoplasm. If the tissues of an organ are examined with 

 the high power microscope the cell may appear slightly swollen 

 and its limiting membrane quite distinct ; it may be considerably 

 swollen and have an indistinct membrane ; or, finally, it may have 

 ruptured and the space it previouslv occupied may contain a mass 

 of granular debris. The protoplasm of the cell body may con- 

 tain small, irregular granules, the nucleus may be almost normal, 

 slightly degenerated, or it may even be entirely disintegrated. 



Tissues Affected. — Epithelium, muscular, nervous, and con- 

 nective tissue are affected with cloudy swelling, the frequency 

 being in the order mentioned. Cells of excretory organs are 

 especially affected because of their eliminative function. 



Effects. — The eft'ects of cloudy swelling depend upon the 

 structure involved, the extent of the involvment, and the age of 

 the aft'ected animal. Affected muscular tissue has a diminished 

 contractile power. Renal tubules may be occluded because of 

 the swollen tubular cells and the affected cells mav also have 

 a diminished functional capacity. The function of any structure 

 is decreased and in extreme cases inhibited by cloudy swelling 

 of its component cells. 



Cloudy swelling is usually a repairable process, providing the 

 cause is removed before the cells are destroyed. 



