DR. BEALEj ON THE TISSUES. 7 



the matrix luay become harder and undergo other changes, 

 but no more can be produced. The formation of the matrix 

 has ceased. The matrix, close to the germinal matter Avhich 

 is recently formed is of course soft, and when it is broken 

 away the mass of germinal matter within escapes entire. In 

 all tissues the bond of union between the germinal matter and 

 the formed material is very slight ; a fact which receives a 

 simple explanation upon the view of growth brought forward. 

 The matrix gradually undergoes condensation and probably 

 contracts somewhat after it has been formed. 



The formation of fat, a change which is not unfrequently 

 observed in cartilage, was illustrated by a specimen. A small 

 globule of fatty matter, is first seen in the germinal matter of 

 an elementary part external to the nucleus, as this increases 

 the nucleus is pushed over to one side, and gradually becomes 

 compressed betAveen the fatty matter and the recently formed 

 matrix of the cartilage. The changes occurring in cartilage 

 during the formation of fatty matter resemble those which 

 take place in the development of ordinary adipose tissue. 



The formation of cartilage is generally described in a very 

 different manner. It has been said that the membranous 

 capsule of the cartilage cell sends in septa, when the cells it con- 

 tains, undergo division "which serve as new envelopes for the 

 young cells, yet in such a way, that even the gigantic groups 

 of cells, which proceed from each of the original cells, are still 

 enclosed in the greatly enlarged parent capsules.'^ (Virchow.) 



Against this theory Dr. Beale had endeavoured to show that 

 the matrix or intercellular substance with the membranous 

 capsules of the cartilage cells corresponded with the cell wall 

 of a spore of mildew. This outer capsule of the mildew, as 

 he had tried to prove, does not possess the power of growth. 

 It is the internal germinal matter which is alone concerned in 

 the growth of the plant. So in cartilage, the matrix was once 

 in the state of germinal matter. The septa do not extend 

 themselves in, or grow in, but the material of which they are 

 composed results from an alteration taking place in the oldest 

 particles of the germinal matter. 



Mucous tissue of the umbilical cord. — Dr. Beale then di- 

 rected attention to the anatomy of a peculiar connective tis- 

 sue which has been particularly studied by Virchow, and on 

 the structure of which he lays the greatest stress, for he states 

 that in a good preparation, '' a symmetrical network of cells 

 is brought into view, which splits up the mass into such 

 regular divisions that by means of the anastomoses which 

 subsist between these cells throughout the whole of the 

 umbilical cord, a uniform distribution of the nutritive juices 



