126 MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY OF THE TEETH 



the term intercellular substance to the jelly-like substance 

 above referred to, and not to apply it to these extensions 

 of the cell wall. It appears very probable that this altered 

 tissue of the outer part of the cell may by its persistence 

 give rise to the stellate appearance in balsam mounted 

 sections. In such preparations the intercellular substance, 

 as well as the cells, has disappeared. In sections mounted 

 without the use of alcohol the cells themselves are seen to 

 have a stellate form with broad connecting processes or 

 bridges, the outer layer of these cells extend'ng into other 



FIG. 74. Stellate reticulum. Macropus. (x 1,000.) 



long, narrow processes which communicate with one another 

 over the whole area of the tissue and enclose spaces con- 

 taining an apparently homogeneous material. 



It is apparently the network formed by these connecting 

 processes which forms the web-like tissue seen in the balsam 

 preparations, and which remains after the more delicate 

 tissue of which they form the boundary has fallen away. 



The appearances would suggest that this outer layer and 

 its processes have undergone some change which makes 

 them more resistant than the rest of the cell, and they 

 therefore persist after the removal of the body of the cell 

 with its nucleus. 



