TEANSACTIONS OF MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VIII, 
To illustrate Dr. Beale^s observations on the Formation of 
the so-called Intercellular Substance of Cartilage. {See 
p. 96.) 
rig. 1. — Section of cartilage from the temporal bone of the common frog. 
The so-called "cell" is seen to consist of granular matter, in which small 
globules and a nucleus are embedded. Owing to change occurring after the 
removal of the cartilage, a slight interval appears to exist between the outer 
part of the granular matter and the matrix, but in the living state there is 
no such interval. The nucleus and tiie granular matter around constitute 
the author's germinal matter T The oil-globules deposited in it correspond 
to secondary deposits. The matrix between the masses of germinal matter 
constitute the author's formed material." Two of the masses of germinal 
matter are undergoing subdivision. The septa are not produced by the 
growing-in of the matrix, but the outermost part of thq masses of germinal 
matter is converted into the matrix. . 
Eig. 2. — " Germinal matter" and surrounding formed material — costal car- 
tilage — of a kitten at birth. The germinal matter exhibits zones, which are 
coloured with carmine, and exhibit different degrees of intensity as we pass 
from the outer one, which is faintly coloured, to the spot in the centre, which 
is intensely coloured. It is clear that these zones are ail composed of material 
of the same general characters, so that it would be ver^f unreasonable to call 
the outer zone " cell-contents," the next " nucleus," the next " nucleolus," 
and the spot in the centre " nucleolulus." The outermost zone is struc- 
turally continuous with the matrix, and is gradually being converted into 
matrix. The matter of which all these zones are composed is " germinal or 
living matter." The matrix around is formed and lifeless, but was once 
" germinal matter." 
rigs. 3 and 4, — Cartilage from the frog, showing the germinal matter 
shading into and becoming gradually converted into " matrix " or formed 
material. 
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, represent sections of the cartilage of the ribs taken 
from corresponding spots. Kitten. — Eig. 5, at birth ; fig. 6, at six weeks 
old ; fig. 7, young but nearly full-grown cat ; fig. 8, adult cat. These 
drawings show the gradual separation of the masses of germinal matter from 
each other as the matrix increases in the intervals between them, and the 
gradual increase in size of the masses until the tissue attains its adult 
condition. 
Eigs. 9 and 10. — Drawings copied from Mr. Rainey's work illustrating 
his views upon the mode of formation of lacunae. He states that no nucleus 
or cell exists in any of the spaces represented in fig. 9, and that the calca- 
reous particles are deposited in the matrix independently of the " cells" of 
the cartilage. No "nuclei " or "cells " (masses of germinal matter) are re- 
presented in either of these drawings, but the author maintains that when 
the sections were fresh several such bodies must liave existed. 
