530 GENERAL ANATOMY. ' 



like the convolutions of the brain. This tissue is then firm, 

 like the rind of bacon, semi-transparent, without colour, or 

 whitish or grayish; the lobules are united together by an im- 

 perfect cellular tissue, of extreme softness; they become con- 

 founded in proportion as the mass is developed. Numerous 

 vessels, very fine, and with very weak walls, are ramified in 

 this cellular tissue and in the encephaloid substance itself. 



When the development is complete, the encephaloid tumour 

 is of a white colour; violaceous or rose-coloured in different 

 places, either in tints or points. This morbid tissue is then 

 very analogous to the cerebral tissue, but more loose, and less 

 tenacious. It presents otherwise different degrees of consist- 

 ence in the same mass; degrees comparable to those of differ- 

 ent parts of the encephalon. 



The encephaloid masses which are not enveloped by a dis- 

 tinct membrane, are so by a layer of soft cellular tissue; others 

 have a demi-cartilaginous envelope, lined, on the interior, 

 with soft and vascular cellular tissue like the first. Sometimes 

 the cyst is incomplete in its development; in all cases it ap- 

 pears to be posterior in its formation to the substance which it 

 contains. 



The cerebriform infiltration is very common, especially in 

 the tissue of the neck of the uterus; in this state the period of 

 crudity is very short. 



The softening of this tissue gives place to a pultaceous mat- 

 ter of a rose colour. Sometimes then, the vessels giving way, 

 sanguineous infiltration takes place in the cellular tissue, or 

 effusions similar to apoplexy in the softened substance: the 

 blood then concretes, and is in part re-absorbed; sometimes 

 even a membrane like a cyst is formed about the blood; some- 

 times serous infiltrations take place in the surrounding cellu- 

 lar tissue, or serous effusions in the substance itself, which is 

 then fluid like the white softening of the brain. 



Whatever may be the resemblance, in effect very great, be- 

 tween the morbid tissue of which we speak, and the substance 

 of the brain, there is no identity; and we can not admit the 

 opinion of Maunoir, who regards this tissue as the product of 

 an effusion of nervous matter. 



