The present aspect of the doctrine of cellular pathology : a lecture delivered at an evening meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 27th February 1863 / by William Turner.

  • Turner, Wm. (William), Sir, 1832-1916.
Date:
1863
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The present aspect of the doctrine of cellular pathology : a lecture delivered at an evening meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 27th February 1863 / by William Turner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    nuclei of the cells of the sul)-epithelial matrix layer of the urinary mucous membrane. RincMeiscli (op. cit.) has seen the same clianges taking place in the connective tissue of the conjunctival and bronchial raucous membranes; and in these cases, as in the formation of pus in the ordinary areolaj- connective tissue, with the increase of the pus-cells the fibrous element of the connective tissue gradually disappears. An examination which I made a few weeks ago of the inflamed mucous membrane of the pelvis of a kidney and ureter illustrated in a very striking manner some of the phenomena connected with the formation of pus in the sub-epithelial connective tissue.^ The free sm-face of the membrane was covered with a layer of granular and molecular matter, beneath which, and extending for some dis- tance into the substance of the swollen and thickened membrane, were multitudes of small closely-crowded cells, like pus or the so- called exudation corpuscles. They were so numerous that the natm-al texture was completely hidden by them. Still deeper the cells diminished in numbers, and arranged themselves in groups, which evidently corresponded to the sites of the original corpuscles of the connective tissue, and between these groups of cells portions of the fibrous elements of the texture might be seen. But in all these deeper parts of the tissue, where the cell-forms were present, and evidently, from their general aspect, most capable of under- going development and increase, the amount of granular and visible molecular matter, both free and within the cells, was comparatively small. Now, if the hypothesis of the formation of pus or exudation corpuscles by the aggregation of granules or visible molecules were coiTCct, we should naturally expect to have found, in those parts of the inflamed membrane in which the process of cell-formation was to all appearance most actively going on, the molecular and granular matter in considerable quantity. But, on the contrary, it was at a minimum in these localities, and was present in greatest amount on and next the free surface of the membrane, i.e., at the part where, from various causes, as contact with the urine and greater sejoara- tion from the sources of nutritive supply, disintegration of texture would most naturally take place. Hence I cannot but conclude that the gi-anulcs and visible molecules found in such cases are pro- ducts of textural disintegi-ation, and not agents in its formation. 7tk, In Serous Membranes.-^In the serous as in the mucous membranes satisfactory evidence has been adduced to show the production of pus both from the epithelial cells and sub-epitlielial connective tissue of which these membranes are composed, although it is probable that in them the endogenous formation of ^ Both in this and the serous membrane described further on, tlie exam- ination was conducted on thin sections made at right angles to the surfac ■with a Valentin's knife. The sections were treated with glycerine and acetic acid. By this method all the structures may be examined in situ, and with no disturbance of their natural relations.