GENERAL CHARACTERS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS. 57 



assumes a rounded form. A return from this altered condition 

 to the original form has not been observed. The above-men- 

 tioned appearances constitute a further difference, distinguishing 

 these from the migratory cells ; the latter show, as in the case 

 of the white blood corpuscles, when such shocks have been 

 transmitted through them, an alteration in their mode of 

 movement, or a sudden retraction of all the processes, and the 

 assumption of a round form ; after which they soon again re- 

 commence their former movements (Golubew).* In similar 

 preparations from newts and salamanders, the appearances 

 presented are the same as in the frog. In warm-blooded 

 animals, a loose connective tissue can be obtained from the 

 surface of the muscles in the form of thin laminae ; this con- 

 tains, indeed, a larger number of fibres than in the frog, but is 

 nevertheless well adapted for the observation of the cells that 

 accompany it. The masseter of a recently killed rabbit or 

 guinea-pig may be exposed, and after division of the fascia a 

 portion of the connective tissue immediately investing the 

 muscular fibres may be removed with scissors, and in this 

 coarsely granular and cylindrical protoplasmic masses may 

 be seen, containing a more or less distinct elliptical nucleus. 

 Most of these cells contain a few granules of considerable size, 

 which in one focus appear as dark pigment molecules, and in 

 another seem to possess a bright centre. 



Besides these coarsely granular cells, other very finely granu- 

 lar ones appear, which are for the most part more delicate and 

 pale, and frequently exhibit fine radiating strongly refractile 

 strise of greenish tint. These easily overlooked, delicate, and 

 proportionately large structures may best be recognised by 

 their very distinct large vesicular nuclei. 



Cells similar to those above described may also be found in 

 the looser connective tissue of other muscles, in the subcuta- 

 neous tissue, and elsewhere. 



If we pass from the examination of such delicate and loose 

 connective tissue to the thicker and denser masses of the same 

 tissue, various objects may be found which are adapted for its 

 examination in a physiologically fresh condition. For this pur- 



* Loc. cit. See the chapter On the General Doctrines of Cells. 



