36 Nature of the Formative Stimulus 
most intense flux and the zone of reproduction thereby 
determined will approach the center of the wound. 
The tangential disposition of the cells of the circular 
zone between the reproductive zone and the central 
granular zone, would be due just to this nervous flux 
which commences to flow through the new formed cells, 
but is still always forced to flow around the wound in 
some such way as the water of a river flows around 
the circular pier of a bridge. The direction of the cell 
axis would thus be determined by the direction of the 
current. 
According to Siegfried Garten’s views, on the con- 
trary, there would exist all around the wound, in spite 
of the aseptic dressing, an augmentation of the blood 
circulation, which would have as its consequence an 
increase of pressure and of the amount of nutritive 
fluid in the tissue. And consequently there would arise 
an augmentation of volume of the intercellular spaces 
and an increased formation of new cells in the reproduc- 
tive zone. As for the tangential disposition of the cells 
of the surrounding zone, he believes that one can explain 
that by the theory of sphincter action, that is through 
the contraction of the intercellular bridges of these cells. 
In consequence of this contraction the long axis of the 
cells would turn into the direction of the tractile force 
which is exercised upon the cells. At the same time the 
consequent shortening of the respective circular zones of 
these cells would cause the epithelium to press in toward 
the center of the granulating surface, and thereby effect 
the gradual contraction of the opening of the wound.% 
But the increased blood supply and the shortening 
Siegfried Garten: Ibid. P. 409—q11. 
