MEMOIRS. 



On the Structure of Hyaline Cartilage. 

 By G. Thtn, M.D. (With Plates I and II.) 



Hyaline cartilage is generally believed to consist of a 

 homogeneous ground substance in "vvhich are closed cavities 

 harbouring nucleated cells, the opinions of BubnofF^ and 

 Ileitzmann^ to the contrary not having hitherto found general 

 acceptance. 



The author's views, being founded on results obtained by 

 several methods, some of which are new and others probably 

 not as yet much in use, will be best introduced by a descrip- 

 tion of tbese methods and the results obtained by them 

 respectively. The application of caustic potash, being the 

 most important of these, will be considered first. Any one 

 who would apply this process to the study of cartilage should 

 first of all apply it to the cornea of a large animal, such as 

 the ox or the sheep, in order to become conversant with the 

 details of the manipulation and to acquire the necessary faith 

 in its results. For it is on the cornea that in the author's 

 hands it has succeeded with incomparably the greatest 

 frequency. Since first publishing an account of this process^ 

 the conditions of its success have been somewhat more 

 closely defined, and with the sheep or ox cornea success is 

 now almost invariable. The method by which the author 

 generally operates is as follows : — Fifteen grammes of pure 

 anhydrous caustic potash in stick are ground to powder in a 

 mortar, Avhicli if the weather is cold should be previously 

 warmed and well dried ; on the powdered potash are quickly 

 poured fifteen cubic centimeters of distilled water, and solu- 

 tion is favoured by stirring. As soon as the potash is dissolved 

 the solution is poured into a narroAv glass vessel or porcelain 

 capsule, and the bulb of a thermometer is suspended in the 



1 ' Wien. Sitzb.,' 1868. 



= ' Wien. Med. Jabrb./ 1872. j 



3 'Proc. Roy. Soc.,' No. 155, 1874. 

 VOL. XVI. NEW SER. A 



