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GEORGE ARNOLD. 
in epitlieliomata which lead up to these changes, for it may 
be dependent on a combination of several unknown factors. 
Faure-Fremiet, A. Mayer and Schaffer (1909), who have 
investigated the chemical nature of chondriosomes by the 
only available means, viz. by micro-chemical and comparative 
methods, conclude that the chondriosomes are lecithalbumins. 
Whether the epidermal fibrils are of the same chemical 
composition as the chondriosomes from which they are 
derived, has yet to be ascertained. Further researches on 
the chemistry of these bodies are necessary before it would 
be safe to draw any deductions from that source, in order to 
explain the degenerative changes which take place in the 
epidermal fibrils of epitlieliomata. 
Conclusions. 
The conclusions derived from the foregoing observations 
may be summed up as follows : The malignant cells com- 
posing an epitlieliomatous growth undergo a gradual 
degeneration, which may take two paths. 
Class I is that in which -the cell obtains an excess over the 
normal of fibrillar material. In such a case the cytoplasm 
increases in volume, the fibrils become greatly thickened, 
and, fusing together, form a mantle round the nucleus. The 
latter, being shut off from communication with the cytoplasm, 
atrophies, and is followed by the degeneration and death of 
the cells as a whole. Such cells usually collect into groups 
and form the epithelial pearls or cell-nests. 
Class II. — The other form of degeneration is apparently 
quicker in its action, to judge by the smaller number of cells 
in which it is visible. It is caused by the withdrawal of the 
fibrils of a cell into other cells undergoing degeneration in 
the manner described under Class I. These cells, devoid of 
fibrils, are brought to an end by the breaking down of the 
nuclear membrane, the dissolution of the contents into the 
cytoplasm, and finally by the fragmentation of the whole 
cell. 
