ULCERATION IN ARTICULAR CARTILAGES. 409 



On one edge of the section is the cai-tihige unaltered, with 

 its corpuscles natural in position and size. On the opposite 

 edge, is the gelatinous, or false membrane, both consisting 

 essentially of nucleated particles, intermixed, especially in the 

 latter, with fibres and bloodvessels ; and, in the former, witli 

 tubercular granular matter. In the immediate vicinity, and 

 on both sides of the irregular edge of the section of cartilage, 

 where it is connected to the membrane, certain remarkable 

 appearances are . seen. These consist, on the side of the 

 cartilage, of a change in the shape and size of the cartilage- 

 corpuscles. Instead of being of their usual form, they are 

 larger, rounded, or oviform ; and, instead of two or three 

 nucleated cells in their interior, contain a mass of them. At 

 the very edge of the ulcerated cartilage, the cellular contents 

 of the enlarged cartilage-coi-puscles communicate with the 

 diseased membrane by openings more or less extended. 

 Some of the ovoidal masses in the enlarged corpuscles may 

 be seen haK-released from their cavities by the removal of the 

 cartilage ; and others of them may be observed in the sub- 

 stance of the false membrane, close to the cartilage, where 

 they have been left by the entire removal of the cartilage 

 which originally surromided them. 



If a portion of the false membrane be gradually torn ofi" 

 the cartilage, the latter wiU appear rough and honey-combed. 

 Into each depression on its surface a nipple-like j^rojection 

 of the false membrane penetrates. The cavities of the en- 

 larged corpuscles of the cartilage open on the ulcerated 

 surface by orifices of a size proportional to the extent of 

 absoi^ition of the walls of the corpuscle, and of the free 

 surface of the cartilage. 



The texture of the cartilage does not exhibit, during the 

 progress of the ulceration, any trace of va.scularity. The 

 false membrane is vascular, and loops of capillaiy vessels dip 

 into the substance of tlio iiiii[ilo-likc projections wliich fill tla* 



