DR. BEALEj ON THE TISSUES. 249 



been christened areolar or connective-tissue-corpuscles. They 

 are supposed to take part in the nutrition of this structure, 

 which does not exist in the embryo, but which increases with 

 age, and undergoes condensation as life advances. In the 

 sixth lecture the connective tissue question will be discussed 

 at some length. Dr. Beale then directed attention to the 

 fact that many of these corpuscles were connected with 

 arteries, veins, capillaries, and nerves; and he stated that 

 there is reason for believing that some of the more spherical 

 particles, coloured red by the carmine, are lymph-corpuscles 

 in the lymphatic vessels, and white blood-corpuscles in the 

 capillaries. The linear arrangement of the nuclei in the 

 papillae, external to the capillary vessels, and immediately 

 beneath the epithelium, should be noticed. These are un- 

 doubtedly connected with nerve-fibres, and from their posi- 

 tion it follows that if the capillaries were congested, these 

 corpuscles would be subjected to slight pressure. In the 

 areolar tissue there are also a number of masses of germinal 

 matter^ which ultimately become fat-cells. 



The changes which occur in elementary parts, when the 

 conditions under which growth takes place in a normal state 

 were modified, were then referi'ed to. 



Modification of elementary parts produced by altered con- 

 ditions. — Preparation No. 20 showed the elementary parts 

 situated in the middle of the cuticle of the arm, about twelve 

 hours after the application of a blister, at the time when the 

 superficial layers were being separated from the deeper ones, 

 and -fluid was accumulating in the interval betwen them. 

 In the part of the preparation now shown several elementary 

 parts were seen invested with a moderately thick layer of 

 formed material, but to the left of the field were some having 

 but a very thin layer indeed. Several spherical masses of 

 germinal matter were observed in close contact with the inner 

 surface of the softened external substance, and these were 

 evidently in a state of active growth. They seemed to be 

 growing through the formed material. They were multi- 

 plying in number. If set free, and nutrient material con- 

 tinued to be abundant, they would soon increase in size, 

 and multiply very fast. The layer of formed material, in- 

 vesting each, would be exceedingly thin. The masses first 

 resulting from the growth of the germinal matter set free 

 from the epithelial particles would be invested with a layer 

 of formed material, and would resemble a young cell of 

 cuticle ; but as they multiplied faster and faster, there would 

 not be time for the formation of the layer oi formed material, 

 and at last corpuscles resembling pus would result. 



