ANATOMY OF THE ALIMENTARY CANAL. 
469 
found that lines between the endothelial cells of the lymphatic vessel are marked out 
by the colouring-matter. 
Fat-absorption by the Beticulum of the Villi. 
A glance at figs. 24 & 25 (Plate 41) will give the appearances I have now to describe : 
these preparations are from the intestine of the hedgehog. The similarity of the reticulum 
(filled with small fat-granules) to that which is seen in preparations treated by chromic 
acid is obvious (compare figs. 21 & 22 with figs. 24 & 25). There is only one difference, 
and that is due to the different reagents. The reticulum is always broader in prepara- 
tions which have been hardened in Muller’s fluid and osmic acid, than it is in those 
preparations hardened in chromic acid or alcohol (see figs. 41 & 39, Plate 43). 
In conclusion , we find that the fat travels by the reticulum which is found every- 
where among the other elements of the mucosa. 
I can confirm those observers who have asserted that Lieberkuhn’s glands absorb. 
There is, however, much less absorption from these glands than from the surfaces of 
the villi. 
What are the forces causing absorption! No doubt the emptying of the chyle-vessel 
by the muscles surrounding it, and the subsequent erection of the villi, tend to promote 
absorption. Probably, however, absorption is not the purely mechanical process of par- 
ticles of fat being pressed through a soft semifluid mass (the reticulum) ; on the contrary, 
it is more probable that the reticulum takes an active part in the process*. 
CHAPTER II. 
THE MINUTE ANATOMY OP THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE OE THE PYLORIC END 
OE THE STOMACH. 
History. 
Todd and Bowman (32) first showed the great difference between the glands near the 
pylorus and those of the rest of the stomach. They found that the epithelial cells of 
the surface are continued into wide cylindrical tubes, which end in very short and dimi- 
nutive tubes lined with a “ subcolumnar ” epithelium. 
This difference between the glands of the pylorus and those of the rest of the stomach 
was confirmed by Donders (12) and Kolliker (93). 
Kolliker (61) found bands of muscles from the muscularis mucosa running between 
the glands even into the plicae villosae. 
Klein (94) explained the manner in which the bands of muscle in the lower part of 
the mucosa decussate, “ forming a kind of pocket ”... “ embracing the several tubes.” 
He found that some of the fibres “ extend as far as the epithelium.” 
Ebstein (95) first accurately described the character of the cells of the proper gland- 
* Busk and Huxley, in a note to the translation of the Manual of Human Anatomy by A. Kollikek, 1854, 
said, “We should rather compare the manner in which fat enters a villus to that in which the iDgesta enter 
an Actinojohrys.” 
