EXPERIMENTS
ON THE REGENERATION OF
CARTILAGE.
Oub attention has been directed to an of the Medical
the Paris
correspondent
published
in the number dated the 20th to
notice some recent
writer
brings
young
physiologist,
Doctor Pejrand,
interesting
letter of Times and Gazette
November last.
experiments on
The
made by *
a
the regeneration of
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
42
perichondrium. By making subcutaneous incartilages, M. Le Gros, in 1867, proved that, provided the air was effectually excluded and suppuration prevented, the ordinary fibrous tissue of the consequent cicatrix became eventually replaced by cartilaginous tissue. The regeneration failed when purulent degeneration followed the incisions. It was noted that the experiments succeeded
cartilage
by
its
cisions into the articular
beat in young animals, in which the nutrition is active. Physiologically, the perichondrium is the nutrient membrane as the periosteum is the nutrient special value of Dr. Pey rand's investigations consists in their having proved that the power of regeneration of cartilage lies exclusively in the perichondrium. He conducted his experiments upon young dogs, from two to six months old, because, at that age, the perichondrium is very thick, and vascular, and can be detached or separated with considerable facility. The costal cartilages are indicated as being most suitable for experiment. But the cartilages of the nose and ear afford equally satisfactory results, if sufficient care be exercised by the operator. Tlie manner in which the experiments are made is as follows :?An incision, parallel to the direction of the rib, is carried down to the perichondrium. A corresponding incision is now made in the perichondrium, and a sharp spatula is used to separate the same on each side from the subjacent cartilage. A portion of cartilage is now cut out, after which the parts are brought into juxta-position. Dr. Peyrand made thirty experi-
of
cartilage
in the
same manner
investment of the bones.
The
ments of this kind. The result
"
has been the perfect regeneration of the removed The choudroplastes were always more
cartilage by cartilage.
numerous, and further advanced in their development at the circumference of the rib, than in the centre. The two ends of costal
calcified examined
Ranvier.) meetings
part whatever in the regenefound rounded off, cone-like, and Many of these specimens have been
cartilago had
ration ; these ends
ossified.
or
taken no
were
some of the first miscroscopists, (Vulpian, Cornil, Their exactness has also been verified at recent
by
of the Societe de
The animals
were
Biologie,
and Societe do
Anatomie,
sacrificed from one to six months after the
experiments, so that the experimentalist was able to study the regeneration of cartilage in all its phases." Experiments were also made without preserving the perichondrium, and in all the9e, the original tissue did not become reproduced. "The perichondrium, therefore, or the anatomical element situated upon its uuder surface, regenerates cartilage, ju3t as the osteogenic sheet, situated beneath the periosteum regenerates bone." The practical inference is, that in all cases of injury to the cartilages of the body, every endeavour should be made to it is upon the vital integrity preserve the perichondrium, for of this, that reparation by regenerated cartilage tissue is dependent.
[Febettaiiy 1,
1870.
ON THE REGENERATION OF
CARTILAGE.
Oub attention has been directed to an of the Medical
the Paris
correspondent
published
in the number dated the 20th to
notice some recent
writer
brings
young
physiologist,
Doctor Pejrand,
interesting
letter of Times and Gazette
November last.
experiments on
The
made by *
a
the regeneration of
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
42
perichondrium. By making subcutaneous incartilages, M. Le Gros, in 1867, proved that, provided the air was effectually excluded and suppuration prevented, the ordinary fibrous tissue of the consequent cicatrix became eventually replaced by cartilaginous tissue. The regeneration failed when purulent degeneration followed the incisions. It was noted that the experiments succeeded
cartilage
by
its
cisions into the articular
beat in young animals, in which the nutrition is active. Physiologically, the perichondrium is the nutrient membrane as the periosteum is the nutrient special value of Dr. Pey rand's investigations consists in their having proved that the power of regeneration of cartilage lies exclusively in the perichondrium. He conducted his experiments upon young dogs, from two to six months old, because, at that age, the perichondrium is very thick, and vascular, and can be detached or separated with considerable facility. The costal cartilages are indicated as being most suitable for experiment. But the cartilages of the nose and ear afford equally satisfactory results, if sufficient care be exercised by the operator. Tlie manner in which the experiments are made is as follows :?An incision, parallel to the direction of the rib, is carried down to the perichondrium. A corresponding incision is now made in the perichondrium, and a sharp spatula is used to separate the same on each side from the subjacent cartilage. A portion of cartilage is now cut out, after which the parts are brought into juxta-position. Dr. Peyrand made thirty experi-
of
cartilage
in the
same manner
investment of the bones.
The
ments of this kind. The result
"
has been the perfect regeneration of the removed The choudroplastes were always more
cartilage by cartilage.
numerous, and further advanced in their development at the circumference of the rib, than in the centre. The two ends of costal
calcified examined
Ranvier.) meetings
part whatever in the regenefound rounded off, cone-like, and Many of these specimens have been
cartilago had
ration ; these ends
ossified.
or
taken no
were
some of the first miscroscopists, (Vulpian, Cornil, Their exactness has also been verified at recent
by
of the Societe de
The animals
were
Biologie,
and Societe do
Anatomie,
sacrificed from one to six months after the
experiments, so that the experimentalist was able to study the regeneration of cartilage in all its phases." Experiments were also made without preserving the perichondrium, and in all the9e, the original tissue did not become reproduced. "The perichondrium, therefore, or the anatomical element situated upon its uuder surface, regenerates cartilage, ju3t as the osteogenic sheet, situated beneath the periosteum regenerates bone." The practical inference is, that in all cases of injury to the cartilages of the body, every endeavour should be made to it is upon the vital integrity preserve the perichondrium, for of this, that reparation by regenerated cartilage tissue is dependent.
[Febettaiiy 1,
1870.
