284 THE TISSUES. 



rise to an appearance like a cicatrix. Even the lupus exedens is 

 merely a development of white fibrous tissue in the corium of the 

 skin; but in such a way as to cause atrophy and ulceration of its 

 structure, and thus its progressive destruction. 



The pathological development of white fibrous tissue alone, is 

 not generally regarded as producing a malignant epigenesis. But 

 this distinction of malignant and non-malignant is evidently of less 

 importance, when we consider that the atrophy of the parenchyma 

 of the liver from a hypertrophy of Glisson's capsule, is as sure to 

 be fatal if it continues to progress, as is any form of cancerous 

 development. 



CHAPTEE IY. 



THE AEEOLAK TISSUE. 



SEVERAL different terms have been used by different histologists 

 to designate this tissue. Long ago termed the cellular tissue, it has 

 more recently been called the connective tissue ; the reticulated con- 

 nective tissue (Kollik&r) ; the fibro-cellular tissue ; the fibrous cellu- 

 lar (HassalT), and the areolar tissue (Todd and Bowman). Of all 

 these, the last is the only appropriate name. The term " connective," 

 as applied to any tissue has already been objected to (p. 275), though 

 it is really more applicable to this than to any other, as expressing 

 one of its functions. By a cellular tissue can, now-a-days, be meant 

 only a tissue composed of an aggregation of cells, like the epithe- 

 lium, &c. ; and by a fibro-cellular, one composed of fibres and cells. 



The tissue under consideration is composed of fibres so inter- 

 woven, either separately or in fasciculi, as to leave larger or smaller 

 irregular spaces areolce between them. And this arrangement 

 constitutes the peculiarity of the tissue ; for the fibres are those of 

 the white-fibrous tissue and the yellow-fibrous tissue, just described. 

 It has been seen that white-fibrous tissue is almost invariably ac- 

 companied by the yellow, as in the tendons, fibrous membranes, 

 &c. (p. 278). But while in these the elastic element exists only in 

 a very small amount, and both are so intimately blended as to form 

 a very compact structure ; in the areolar tissue the elastic element 

 is more abundant, and the areola9 give rise to a loose and spongy 

 tissue. A description is, therefore required : 



