DEVELOPMENT OF HYALINE CARTILAGE. Ill 



produce a new generation, leading to enlargement of the spaces 

 enclosed by the capsules of the mother cells. 



The cells then appear to be arranged in detached groups at 

 a considerable distance from one another, and the youngest 

 capsules are now more distinctly visible. After the applica- 

 tion of the means which have been above described, the whole 

 matrix again presents the appearance of being divisible into 

 nests of capsules, one enveloping the other. 



If we further compare the appearances presented by em- 

 bryonic cartilage with the fully developed cartilage of adults, 

 we must admit that the cells, without undergoing division, are 

 capable of producing successive generations of capsules, fresh 

 ones constantly forming in the interior of the old, whilst 

 the external ones increase in size, and become faintly marked 

 as regards their limits. In such cartilage the cells appear 

 fewer in number, and the matrix of the cartilage just formed 

 can be frequently artificially split into concentric rings sur- 

 rounding the cells. In fully developed cartilage, moreover, 

 both laminated mother and daughter cells may be coincidently 

 observed. 



Observation of the development of cartilage thus teaches 

 us that in its earliest stages cells destitute of cell membrane 

 or primordial cells are alone present, and that the so-called 

 matrix or chondrin-yielding substance of cartilage is a second- 

 ary formation. Opinions are, however, divided respecting 

 the relation which the latter bears to the former. 



On the one hand the chondrin-yielding substance may be 

 regarded as a purely intercellular material, which is either 

 deposited between the cells from without, or is a secretion of 

 the cells themselves. In order to explain the nature of the 

 capsules (including the youngest) it must be admitted on this 

 view that the intercellular substance in the vicinity of the cells 

 is differentiated by a peculiar (?) process of condensation from 

 the remaining intercellular substance.* 



In complete opposition to this exposition of the nature of 

 the matrix is the view propounded by Remak,*f* to the effect 



* Aehy, Zeitschrift fur rationelle Medicin, Bandiv., 3 R., p. 43. 

 f MiLler's Archiv, 1852, p. 69. 



