A  section  through  the  tumour  showed  that,  while  some  parts  of  it
appeared  solid  and  close- textured,  like  a  mass  of  firm  connective  tissue,
the  greater  part  was  like  the  firmest  cavernous  or  erectile  tissue.
Sections  of  bloodvessels  of  various  sizes  and  in  various  directions,
were  so  thick-set,  that  the  surface  looked  aU  reticulated  and  grooved
with  them.  The  general  colour  of  the  tumour,  which  seemed  to  have
almost  emptied  itself  of  blood  during  the  operation,  was  nearly  white ;
but  in  some  parts  it  had  a  pale  ruddy  tinge,  and  in  a  few  was  blotched
with  small  rusty  and  ochry  spots.
The  microscopic  examination  was  less  instructive  than  the  general
aspect  of  the  tumour.  Its  tissue  was  very  hard  to  dissect,  and  displayed
(as  its  chief  constituent)  matted  and  crooked  fibres,  like  those  of  close-
textured,  longitudinal,  striated  membrane  of  bloodvessels,  with
shrivelled  nuclei  imbedded  in  membrane,  some  of  these  nuclei  being
round,  some  oval,  and  some  very  narrow  and  elongated.  I  think  the
obscurity  of  the  microscopic  appearances  was  due  to  the  tenacity  with
which  the  bloodvessels  were  imbedded  in  the  elastic  fibrous  or  nucleated
tissue  ;  it  seemed  impossible  to  eitricate  complete  vessels  ;  and  one
obtained  by  dissection  only  fragments  of  their  walls  confused  with  the
intermediate  tissues.
Other  cases  of  venous  nsevi,  which  I  have  been  able  to  examine  less
completely,  have  confirmed  the  foregoing  account,  especially  in  regard
to  the  small  size  of  the  arteries  in  comparison  with  the  veins,  the
genera,lly  dilated  and  varicose  state  of  the  latter,  and  the  imitation  of
the  characters  of  erectile  tissue,  which  appears  always  more  marked  in
the  venous  than  in  the  other  forms  of  vascular  tumours.
