12 WEBB, ON A LOOSE CARTILAGE. 
merged into a hyaline matter, studded with imnumerable 
flattened and elongated nuclei, very closely applied to each 
other, and arranged in strata towards the exterior, but 
becoming more and more scattered and expanded as they 
were traced inwards. The several stages of vacuolation and 
formation of cell-spaces could now be distinguished around 
these isolated nuclei, while the periplastic matter was clearer 
and without any marks of definite organization. Among the 
fully formed cells the usual tendency to multiplication by 
division showed itself, and somewhat further in this tendency 
assuming, as in ossifying cartilage, a linear direction, parallel 
and perpendicular rows of cells, with but a small amount of 
intervening matter, constituted the bulk of the substance. 
Some of the mature cells manifested a change in the nature 
of their contents. These had hitherto been clear and fluid, 
with the exception of the nucleus, but now opaque granular 
material began to be seen. The end-to-end cells also 
coalesced with a regularity which converted them imto short 
tubules, closely packed together in groups. These tubules, 
or many-celled spaces, soon became filled with an amorphous 
saline deposit to such an extent, that all traces of cell-wall 
and periplastic matter were concealed, and the mass appeared 
but one uniform solid block. The disintegrating and analytic 
influence of reagents was here required to demonstrate the 
actual condition of this reputed bone. 
Dilute caustic soda, by expanding the intercellular matrix 
disclosed the whole series of tubules or spaces originating in 
the fused cells of which the part was made up, and so 
isolated the casts about which the cell-walls were accurately 
moulded. The addition of hydrochloric acid caused the 
entire solution of these concretions, with effervescence, and 
left exposed the empty and bare cell-walls, retaining their 
perfect contour, with the nuclei still adhermg in their 
natural position and integrity. Longitudinal irregularities 
or puckerings, produced no doubt by chemical action, gave 
to these walls a sort of fibrous look. The very centre of 
the mass consisted of numerous stellate groups of these 
elongated spaces with cretaceous contents, round the ag- 
gregate of which were arranged the perpendicular rows of 
cells undergoing the process of fusion, and fillimg up of 
their areas. 
There was no indication of nerve, vessel, bone-corpuscle, 
or other structure, which could warrant the classification of 
this abnormal articular growth as an osteophyte. Beyond a 
certain depth from the surface, all the changes taking place 
were those of retrograde metamorphosis. 
