iant and fundamental work of Goldmann. In a
case of malignant lymphoma Goldmann found a considerable accumulation of
eosinophil cells within the tumour, and demonstrated anatomically, that
it was brought about by an emigration of the cells from the vascular
system. Hence Goldmann concluded that the eosinophil cells pass over
into the tissue in question, at the call of certain chemiotactic
products. Goldmann, and later Kauter, shewed that these eosinophil cells
were not merely due to an ordinary inflammation; for in a large number
of other diseases of the lymph glands--particularly the tuberculous,
they were entirely absent. Similarly Leredde and Perrin have shewn in
their investigations of Duehring's disease, that the eosinophil cells,
which are also present in the cutaneous tissue in large numbers, apart
from the contents of the bullae, are due to an emigration from the
blood-stream.
Thus it is evident from a number of various facts, that the eosinophil
cells found in the tissues are not formed there, but have immigrated
from the blood-stream. It naturally often happens that this appearance
is not preserved equally distinctly in all cases. For, as has been seen
in the ordinary polynuclear leucocytes, the immigrated polynuclear
eosinophils may similarly change to mononuclear cells; they may perhaps
settle down, and approximate to the character of fixed connective tissue
cells. Such appearances may readily give rise to the view that in this
case the reverse nuclear metamorphosis has occurred; that is a
progressive development from mononuclear eosinophil to polynuclear
cells.
In agreement with Goldmann, Jadassohn and H. F. Mueller, we believe that
the only admissible explanation for the facts mentioned above is that
the eosinophil cells obey specific chemiotactic stimuli. By this
hypothesis we can easily understand eosinophil leucocytosis, the
presence of eosinophil cells in exudations and secretions, and the local
accumulation of this kind of cell.
As to the nature of these chemiotactically active substances, we can so
far only surmise. From amongst the clinical phenomena capable of
throwing light on this subject we mention once more the fact, that the
metabolic products of bacteria repel the eosinophil cells.
The opposed behaviour of eosinophil and neutrophil cells is
very well illustrated by a case of Leichtenstern:
"In a very anaemic almost moribund patient with Ankylostomias
there were
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