Varices, moreover, sometimes begin to ulcerate from their cellular coat, and from the contiguous cellular tissue; the ulcerous perforation of the varix from without commonly impinges on a coagulum of blood, and hence the symptoms of pyaemia do not ensue.

The distribution of phlebectasis is extremely various, and is determined by different causes. It may uniformly attack the whole venous system; or, on the other hand, it may be limited to almost any section of it in the form of varicosity. Varicosity is either originally developed on the small veins - the venous radicles, - and extends from thence towards the trunks; or it may originate in the latter, and retrograde from thence to the ramifications.