ULCEUATION IN AKTICULAK CARTILAGEg. 411 



puscules, and this, as well as the analogy of similar processes, 

 gives weiglit to the opinion to which I liave come, that they 

 are not the immediate instruments in the absorption of the 

 free surface. The cells of new formation appear to be the 

 immediate agents in this action. They absorb into their 

 substance the liyaline matter of the cartilage, the latter pro- 

 bably not being removed at once from the spot, but merely 

 converted into soft cellular texture ; the process being one of 

 transformation rather than removal. 



