1879.] 



Dr. G. Thin. On Hyaline Cartilage. 



257 



Figure 2. Part of a bundle hanging loosely on the free under edge of the same sec- 

 tion from which fig. 1 is drawn. The mosaic of primary bundles is un- 

 usually well marked. x 375. 



Figure 3. Elastic fibre, with patches of chloride of gold deposit adherent. Isolated 

 from adult human skin. Grold saturation and maceration in 20 per cent, 

 acetic acid, x 340. 



Figure 4. Isolated primary bundles. Human adult skin. Gold saturation and 

 maceration in formic acid, x 340. 



Figure 5. Tertiary bundle entwined by elastic fibres. Human adult skin. Gold 

 saturation ; maceration in acetic acid. x 340. 



Figure 6. Gold deposit on a large elastic fibre, and a small elastic fibre on the sur- 

 face of a bundle almost completely ensheathed in gold deposit. Human 

 adult skin. Gold saturation ; maceration in acetic acid, x 340. 



Figure 7. An isolated secondary bundle, in which the contours of the primary 

 bundles are visible. The latter are entwined by minute elastic fibres. 

 Human adult skin. Gold saturation : maceration in formic acid, 

 x 340. 



Figure 8. Bundle showing fibrillae. and snared by an elastic fibre (spiral fibre). 



Human adult skin. Saturation with glycerine ; picro-carminate staining. 

 (Hartnack, Objective jNo. 8 ; Eye-piece No. 3 ; Tube in.) 



Figure 9. Lines of gold deposit on bundles, following the course of elastic fibres. 



Human adult skin. Gold saturation : maceration in acetic acid. x 340. 



Figure 10. Elastic fibre with a nucleus adhering to it, and a streak of gold deposit 

 partially detached from the fibre. (Hartnack, Objective JNo. 8 ; Eye- 

 piece No. 3.) 



II. " On Hyaline Cartilage and deceptive appearances produced 

 by Reagents, as observed in the examination of a Cartila- 

 ginous Tumour of the Lower Jaw." By George Thin, 

 M.D. Communicated by Professor Huxley, Sec. R.S. 

 Received November 25, 1878. 



[Plate 3.] 



The following paper is written with a twofold object : firstly, as a 

 contribution to the histology of hyaline cartilage ; secondly, to illus- 

 trate how much the apparent structure of a tissue which is being 

 examined microscopically depends on methods of preparation. 



A portion of a large tumour of the lower jaw, believed from its naked 

 eye appearances by two experienced surgeons to be sarcomatous in its 

 nature, was given me for examination. Although I was struck by the 

 peculiar kind of resistance it offered to the knife, I did not imagine at 

 the time, any more than did the surgeons who excised it, that the 

 tumour was cartilaginous. This is to be explained by the fact that 

 the cartilaginous substance which had been growing with extreme 

 rapidity was of a low type. 



In order to determine the structure of the growth, I hardened por- 



