CARTILAGE. 99 



same results with a single shock. The cells which have thus 

 been made suddenly to undergo contraction (fig. 7) appear 

 coarsely granulated, darker than before, with the nucleus 

 scarcely, if at all, perceptible ; whilst alteration of the focus, 

 and close inspection of the edges of the cells after they have 

 been separated from the cavity, shows that the immediate 

 cause of their altered appearance is that their surfaces have 

 become mulberry-like (fig. 7). In this condition the cells may 



Fig. 7. 



Fig. 7. Cartilage from a Triton after a single opening shock of induced 



electricity. 



remain and be examined for hours, or even for days together, 

 if they are preserved from the effects of evaporation by the 

 employment of the moist chamber. A slight enlargement, ac- 

 companied by increased smoothness of the surface, may fre- 

 quently be observed ; the nucleus at the same time becoming 

 somewhat more distinct; but the cells always remain more opaque 

 than before the passage of the current, and never completely 

 recover their original appearance. Nor are any satisfactory 

 results obtained if the attempt be made to restore the cartilage 

 to its normal condition by introducing it again beneath the 

 skin of the animal. The cells do not recover their previous 

 appearance even four and twenty hours or more after the 

 application of the electrical shock. For the second observation 



