Cartilage, is a smooth, elastic, and insensible animal sub-stance, somewhat approaching to the nature of bones.

Cartilages have a natural elasticity, the power of which is so great that, on being forced out of their situation, they spontaneously return to it, as soon as that force is removed. They are principal!}' situated in those parts of the human body, which require a slight and easy motion, as in the ears, nose, etc. Their elasticity supplies the place of antagonist muscles, or such as are by Nature designed to counteract each other. Cartilages also invest all the ends of those bones, that are conjoined for performing motion ; because, as they are both smoother and softer than bones, which are insensible, the attrition occasioned by the motion of the joints is thus more effectu-ally guarded against. - See likewise Charcoal.