174 Samuels.—A Pathological Anatomical Study of 
At the end of this discussion of the behaviour of the nucleus and 
nucleolus we may come finally to the conclusion that the abnormal 
change in form of the nucleus depends directly upon water loss. Per¬ 
haps also short intervals of pressure, which may occur in the cell as 
the result of purely mechanical or physico-chemical causes, may play 
a part, as may also abnormal acidity, which in turn may be caused 
by infection. The specific normal behaviour of the nucleolus indicates, 
after all, that the latter is undoubtedly only a final product of metabolism. 
2 . The Behaviour of the Protoplasm. 
We come now to the second point of our discussion, or the behaviour of 
the protoplasm during the development of crystal cells. This behaviour, 
especially in an ordinary raphid cell, has not as yet been made the subject 
of a special study. 
As a result of observations we know of course that as soon as the 
calcium oxalate appears in the vacuoles the normal movement or 
activity of the protoplasm is disturbed, which is no doubt the cause of the 
lateral position of the nucleus. As already stated, the young cysts are 
characterized by their extraordinary density of protoplasm, in which numerous 
vacuoles gradually appear, instead of the large one which is usually observed 
in normal raphid cells. These vacuoles then fuse into one large vacuole in 
which crystal colonies are developed. The concentrated mass of protoplasm 
which appears so conspicuously in the young cysts reminds one of that of a 
large embryo-sac cell with its much smaller protoplasmic content. It clearly 
indicates an infected or pathological tissue. This abnormal accumulation 
of protoplasm may perhaps be explained by assuming that during or before 
the fusion of two protoplasts a concentration of the protoplasmic mass 
is effected, the cause of which is as yet unknown. 
This concentration of protoplasm may be caused by the calcium 
oxalate which is present in liquid form and concentrated there as a result of 
the accumulation of that substance from a number of neighbouring cells by 
endosmosis, or through some other chemical or physico-chemical process 
which has previously taken place. 
However, it is unquestionable that the extraordinary concentration 
existing in two adjacent protoplasts constitutes evidence of a high degree 
of acidity in the protoplasm of these cells, inasmuch as there is no question 
here of embryonic tissue or of endosperm cells. 
It is not a question of wall dissolution, as has been observed in 
pathological cases, but of their bursting. This may perhaps be caused 
by a too great osmotic pressure. Irregular physiological processes take 
place in a certain cell complex which probably lead to the bursting. 
Whether or not these processes have their origin in abnormal external 
