CELLS.— -SCLEROGEN. 
67 
microscopist was in error. I, however, still maintained 
my point, and, when preparing the series of specimens 
known as hard tissues, for the Histological Catalogue 
of the College of Surgeons, I examined, among other 
things, the Tamarind , and in the testa of the seed found 
the disputed structure. I subsequently learned that 
the patient was the daughter of a grocer, and might 
have had free access to the tamarind jar. This is another 
instance of the value of the microscope to our profession. 
A portion of this specimen is repre- 
sented in Fig. 51. It consists of a 
series of elongated cells or woody 
fibres, which exhibit pores on their mar- 
gins, and occur in several laminae ; the 
direction of the cells in one part of a 
lamina is often nearly at right angles 
to that in close proximity to it ; the 
entire testa is exceedingly tough, and no 
doubt very indigestible. A somewhat 
similar tissue to that above described 
exists in the core of the Apple, but the 
cells are much coarser than those of the 
Tamarind. 
In the Croton-oil seed, the cells are 
remarkable for their minute size, 
much smaller than in any other plant 
I have yet examined ; they, however, 
exhibit very well the central cavity and 
radiating pores. A portion of one of 
the seeds is represented in Fig. 52. F 2 
FIG. 51 . 
Portion of the 
testa of the seed of 
the Tamarind. 
fig. 52 . 
Portion of the 
testa of the seed of 
Croton tiglium. 
