279 
the stellate connective-tissue corpuscles seen in the cross sec- 
tions of tendons are, as is now generally recognised, nothing 
more than gaps between the connective-tissue bundles. The 
nuclei of the inoblasts are equivalent to the nuclei of the 
spindle-shaped corpuscles of Langhans, or the nucleoli of 
the connective-tissue nuclei of some writers. 
The considerations here urged have also a certain patho- 
logical interest. For the cellular pathology, founded upon 
the connective tissue, rests on the article of faith that the 
cells are active in disease, but the intercellular substance 
inactive. It requires, also, the admission of the identity of 
bone, cartilage, and connective tissue, derived from the sup- 
posed demonstration of cells and intercellular substance in 
all these tissues. But connective tissue has no intercellular 
substance, except a little fluid. The fundamental substance 
of bone is, moreover, not an intercellular substance, but ori- 
ginates in the cell bodies of the “‘ osteoblasts,” fused together 
and incrusted. With respect to cartilage, we know, it is 
true, nothing more than that it consists of cells and inter- 
cellular substance; but its share in the production of bone 
must at least appear doubtful, since the importance of the 
interstitial [not intercellular] growth has been recognised even 
in the hollow bones. Finally, as to the part played by con- 
nective tissue in the so-called proliferations of cells, no one 
will now doubt that the inoblasts are as innocent in this 
respect as what were formerly called stellate connective-tissue 
corpuscles. 
It remains to speak of certain subordinate varieties of con- 
nective tissue which may be included under the two main 
varieties. 
What is called homogeneous connective tissue is said to 
consist of round or stellate cells and homogeneous inter- 
cellular substance. With improved optical aids to observa- 
tion this tissue may be resolved into its constituents. 
In the apparently gelatinous tissue of the tadpole’s tail 
stellate anastomosing cells and a homogeneous fundamental 
substance have been distinguished ; but the latter substance 
is in reality fluid enclosed in a fine network of threads, which 
are in connection with the inoblasts or stellate cells. These 
threads are the ultimate prolongations of the processes of the 
cells, but migratory cells may make their way in the midst 
of the fluid. 
A modification of the reticular connective tissue, which is 
usually called adenoid or cytogenous tissue, deserves special 
mention. As long ago as 1860, that is, long before this was 
regarded as a special variety of tissue, I described the 
VOL. XI.—NEW SER, T 
