WAXWORK (so called from the waxy scar let STAFF TREE, Or SHRUBBY BITTERSWEET (rqaxtrns scandens). An American climbing shrub of the natural order Celastrann It flour ishes in moat soils from Canada to South Caro lina, and west to South Dakota and New :Mexico, climbing 111mn rocks and trees to a height of 20 feet or more. When the globular, rich orange fruits open they expose beautiful crimson berries. The fibre of the bark has been shown experi mentally to be valuable, but little if any use is made of it. Cevlsspvus arlirulalus nr relastrus orbiculatus, a native of China and ;Japan, is somewhat cultivated, differs mainly in the shape of the leaves.
WAXY (or AIVIYLOID ) DEGENERATION. A morbid process in which the healthy tissue of various organs is replaced by a nitrogenous sub stance, resembling in some respects amyloid Conn pounds. Organs affected by this degeneration have a certain resemblance in consistency and physical character to wax. They are abnormally translucent, increased in volume, solidity, and weight. Usually. the first parts affected are the small blood-vessels, the infiala and media being first changed. Subsequently, adjacent connective
tissues become similarly affected. When a solu tion of iodine is brought in contact with such tissues, a mahogany-brown color is produced; and this color is a sufficiently characteristic test. Iodine and sulphuric acid yield a blue color. Al though amyloid degeneration is common to many tissues and organs, the parts most frequently affected are the spleen, liver, and kidneys. The heart muscles, the supra-renal capsules. the lym phatic glands, and the intestinal mucous mem brane may also be involved. The causes of waxy degeneration are chronic suppuration• especially of hone, as well as syphilis, tubercle, cancer, and probably gout. It is uncertain whether any symptoms are referable to this degeneration, as it is associated with wasting diseases. If the degeneration occurs in the intestines, chronic diarrhoea results. There is no remedy for the degeneration.