ARRANGEMENT OF THE BILIARY DUCTS. 
397 
Small branches of the duct upon the transparent portal vein are seen to be 
continuous with the network of tubes in which the liver-cells lie, and into 
which network a little injection has passed from the duct. The part of 
the cell-containing- network represented in this figure is situated immedi- 
ately round the portal canals, which contain but little areolar tissue in the 
seal. 
Fig. 16. Small ducts from the seal injected with Prussian blue, showing their conti- 
nuity with the cell-containing network of the lobule. At a, the outlines of 
a few capillaries of the portal vein injected with colourless size are seen. 
h. A small branch of the portal vein. The narrowest portions of the duct 
in this preparation have been distended considerably by the injection. 
PLATE XV. 
Fig. 17. Portion of cell-containing network of human foetus at the point of entrance 
of a small branch of the portal vein which is about to divide into capillaries. 
The meshes of the cell-containing network at this point are much wider than 
at a greater distance from the circumference of the lobule, in consequence 
of the vessels being larger. The outlines of the tubes of the network and 
of the walls of the capillaries are seen to be separated by an intervening, 
perfectly transparent material. 
Fig. 18. Part of the cell-containing network of the dog’s liver where its branches 
are parallel, altered by being soaked for some time in dilute caustic soda. 
A few cells are seen, but the greater number are fused together, and the 
tubes are chiefly occupied by a yellow, transparent, highly refracting 
substance, in which numerous oil-globules are contained, a. A tube 
stretched and separated from its neighbours, shovving its basement mem- 
brane and contents. 
Fig. 19. A small duct from the human liver at the point where it becomes con- 
tinuous with the cell-containing network. The cells are much altered in 
character from the mode of preparing the specimen. The duct is very 
much distended with injection. 
Fig. 20. Section of the liver of a man, aged 43, which had been hardened. Unin- 
jected. This preparation shows the continuity of the most minute ducts 
with the cell-containing network. The epithelium of the smallest ducts 
is seen in this specimen. The hepatic cells are destroyed by the action 
of soda. This preparation has been subjected to great pressure between 
the glasses. 
Fig. 21. A similar preparation, not so much flattened by pressure, a. Finest ducts. 
h. A venous capillary cut across, c. A small artery. 
Fig. 22. An interlobular duct dividing into smaller branches upon the surface of a 
3 G 
MDCCCLVI. 
