OP THE FIBRO-CARTILAGINOUS TISSUE. 343 



rary articulations, on and about the surface of the supplementary 

 articular cavities, and in some false anchyloses. Some shape- 

 less fibro-cartilages are found in some compound tumours of 

 the thyroid body, in certain cysts, and in some cicatrices, 

 especially those which occur in the lungs, after discharge of 

 tubercles. Layers of the same kind are found at the surface 

 of the spleen. The fibrous bodies of the uterus are sometimes 

 soft and pulpy at the centre, like the intervertebral ligaments. 

 Finally, we sometimes find globular and regular fibro-cartila- 

 ginous masses, which freely float in the serous cavity in which 

 they penetrate. Dr. Trouv6, of Caen, gave me a tumour of 

 this kind, as large as a walnut, which was found, together with 

 another of the same nature, in the peritoneal cavity. This 

 tumour, which is distinctly fibrous at the exterior, is soft like 

 the intervertebral ligaments towards the centre, and contains 

 in this place a bone of the size of a pea. 



538. The inflammation of the fibro-cartilages has been but 

 slightly observed. All we know is, that in certain cases, the 

 desmo-cartilaginous parts become extremely soft in conse- 

 quence of an afflux of fluids, that is, by a kind of congestion. 

 This is observed in gestation, at the symphysis of the pelvis, 

 and which has been observed even in man, in the same arti- 

 culations. The vertebral column presents this softening in a 

 very marked degree in cases of rachitis. There results from 

 it a flexibility of the intervertebral ligaments, which makes 

 the column bend with the greatest facility, and should the in- 

 dividual keep himself habitually in an improper attitude, 

 causes the spine-to bend laterally in several places, and ulti- 

 mately involves the vertebrae themselves in the deformity. 



One of the varieties of the vertebral diseases also consists 

 in the softening and swelling of the intervertebral ligaments, 

 which at length ulcerate and are destroyed. 

 45 



