90 THE CONNECTIVE TISSUES, BY A. ROLLETT. 



precedes the conversion of connective tissue into plexuses of 

 fibrils, is not here visible ; on the contrary, we constantly meet 

 with fine, smooth, completely homogeneous and transparent 

 fibrils, which at first are only few in number, but are subse- 

 quently more numerous, lying between the cells which have 

 then become elongated, better defined, and more attenuated. 

 The fibrils can be easily isolated by teasing out the tissue, pro- 

 viding the cells have not become very much elongated, and 

 they may also frequently be followed without interruption over 

 the whole extent of the portion of tendon under observation. 

 If the cells have become elongated, and they undergo lengthen- 

 ing both in an absolute sense, as well as relatively to their 

 breadth their breadth, indeed, becoming absolutely less the 

 number of the fibrils undergoes a considerable increase. These, 

 again, may be followed uninterruptedly through the entire 

 tendon, as well as over a whole series of cells. Lastly, amongst 

 a large number of recently formed fibrils more attenuated elon- 

 gated fusiform bodies are found, the extremities of which 

 present long and fine points. These bodies can be easily iso- 

 lated, although their fine extremities adhere intimately to the 

 fibrils. With a proper degree of care we may convince our- 

 selves of their essential independency, and may follow many 

 of the fibrils from one end of the tendon to the other, as smooth 

 homogeneous threads without any indication of nodal points. 

 This, as has been above stated, is only possible whilst the 

 cells are still proportionately broad and short. The further 

 process of development consists in the great increase in the 

 number of the fibrils, in the separation of the cells from one 

 another, and in their becoming gradually more and more com- 

 pletely atrophied. In recently born children, and in adults 

 alike, the atrophied fusiform cells, as appears from what has 

 already been stated, present the same aspect as at all periods 

 of embryonic life, and we never in any instance find a cell 

 intercalated in the course of a fibril. 



From these observations it follows that, in the foregoing 

 cases, any development of the fibrils by the growth of cell 

 processes must be regarded as questionable. 



The fibrils appear to be formed simultaneously for consider- 

 able portions of their length. The cells contained in the 



