184 CONNECTIVE TISSUE. 



In this case, we have simply to assume that solution or lique- 

 faction of an already formed basis-substance sets free the living 

 matter, and that the new grouping into lumps and elements 

 (plastids) depends upon the formation of a new basis-substance 

 in the mesh-spaces. This newly formed basis-substance will look 

 striated or fibrous if the groups be spindle-shaped, such as in 

 tendon and young bone-tissue 5 it will be ribboned if the groups 

 be flat plates, such as in periosteum ; it will appear lamellated 

 should the groups be lenticular bodies, such as in bone-tissue ; 

 or, lastly, it will become globular with the formation of globular 

 masses, such as in hyaline cartilage. 



Within the basis-substance, the reticulum of living matter and 

 the central portion of the protoplasma, the " cell/' or " plastid," 

 remains intact. From the central corpuscle the reticulum ema- 

 nates, according to the shape of the unit of the tissue, either in a 

 prevailing bipolar, or rectangular, or uniformly radiating direc- 

 tion. The forms of the fields of basis-substance will necessarily 

 be determined by the main directions in which the living matter 

 is distributed. The formation of basis-substance seen in that of 

 a territory is illustrated in Fig. 71. 



In order to elucidate in accord with the new views the forma- 

 tion of a fibrous basis-substance, we must consider the fact that 

 one territory may contain several plastids interconnected. If 

 each of the plastids, including those sharing in the formation of 

 basis-substance, become elongated and split into delicate spindles, 

 the result will be a large spindle- or rhomb-shaped territory, com- 

 posed of numerous delicate spindles, which coalesce into fibrillae, 

 between which remain elongated plastids unchanged. As men- 

 tioned before (page 158), each fibrilla in reality is composed of 

 a number of delicate spindles. Between the territories a larger 

 number of plastids is left, and the blood-vessels take their 

 course j or a more solid fibrous reticulum is developed, inclosing 

 the territories, as, f . i., in myxomatous connective tissue. 



The gradual development of basis-substance, therefore, admits 

 of the following analysis : 



In medullary tissue, a single plastid, or a small number of 

 such, is converted into myxomatous basis-substance without the 

 formation of territories ; 



In reticular tissue, a single plastid, or a small number of such, 

 changes into myxomatous basis-substance, the territories of which 

 are separated by a reticulum of plastids or fibers. The plastids 

 within the territory remain unchanged in the lymph-tissue ; 



