less defined than that observed in the lungs. Hepatic tissue is much more readily broken down than pulmonary tissue: hence the abscesses met with in this organ are of a much larger size than those which are generally found in the lungs. The contents of these spots consist, in the incipient stage, of fatty granules, amorphous débris, and hepatic cells undergoing fatty degeneration; but by-and-by they contain well-formed pus, or a very liquid "greyish," "bluish," or "blackish” fluid, in which float shreds of imperfectly-formed lymph and of disintegrating hepatic tissue. These abscesses sometimes contain a grumous liquid in their centres, while at their circumference this matter is concrete and firm. (See Plate VIII.) Occasionally," says H. Lee, "the larger hepatic veins are inflamed, giving to the organ a mottled appearance like granite."*

66

"Before the abscess is confirmed," says Callander, "a very characteristic appearance is presented. A number of firm nodules of a yellowish colour are conspicuous; these are the occluded vessels representing the outer part of the lobules; around them is a pale grey jelly-like network enclosing them, as it were, and this is the surrounding effusion of lymph and serum. Even after the softening of the fibrine and the formation of pus, the abscess retains some traces of its origin; for, when the pus is washed away, a mass of tough tissue remains, in which can still be traced the skeleton of the lobules. As surrounding parts are involved, they pass through similar changes; so that in the same liver may be seen fibrinous plugs, lobules with lymph effused around, and abscesses of varying size, in

* Lee. 1850, p. 52.

PLATE VIII.

Represents a section of a liver in which are embedded secondary abscesses. The surrounding hepatic substance is seen to be greatly congested; while the abscesses themselves exhibit the same characters as in the other viscera, viz., yellowish centres surrounded each by a vascular zone.

To face Plate at page 181.