492 ELEMENTARY HISTOLOGY. 
iii. The elastic tissue is unaltered. 
iv. Connective tissue corpuscles with nuclei become 
visible. 
IV. Adipose tissue. Consists of a network of vascular con- 
nective tissue, in the meshes of which are fat cells, 2.e., 
connective tissue corpuscles in which large quantities of 
fatty matter have accumulated. 
a. Omentum of rabbit or kitten: mount a small prece of 
fresh omentum in normal salt solution ; examine with 
low and high powers : note :— 
i. The vascular connective tissue meshwork, in which 
lie the 
ii. Fat cells: large spherical, or from mutual 
pressure, polyhedral, cells: distended with fatty 
matter, and with nucleus at one side. 
b. Osmic acid specimen. 
Note the reduction of the osmic acid by the fat, which 
becomes stained a dark brown or black colour. 
E. Cartilage. 
In cartilage or gristle the intercellular substance, which in 
most other tissues is only present in small quantity, is greatly 
increased so as often to far exceed in bulk the cells which it 
connects together. The intercellular substance forms a dense 
translucent matrix resembling an extremely stiff jelly, in which 
are imbedded the cartilage cells, either singly or in groups. In 
young cartilage the intercellular substance is much less 
abundant, and the cells consequently closer together than in 
older or more mature specimens. 
I. Hyaline cartilage. Take a small prece of cartilage 
from the shoulder girdle of a newt: scrape away gently 
any muscle or other tissue that may adhere to tt: mount 
in normal salt solution, and examine with low and high 
powers » note -— 
ii The intercellular matrix: hyaline or faintly 
eranular. 
