SERODIAGXOSIS OF ORGANIC FUNCTIONS 



able to decompose the substrate peculiar to a par- 

 ticular organ. In a certain sense we give the serum a 

 -definite question to answer, when we add all kinds 

 of organs to it, and observe which, or how many, of 

 them are decomposed by it. If we find a decom- 

 position, then we infer a somewhat abnormal activity 

 of the cells of the corresponding organ. We presume 

 that substances have been passed out, primarily from 

 the cells of the organ in question, which have not 

 vet been made sufficiently harmonious with the 

 plasma, and that they still exhibit characteristic 

 features peculiar to the cells in question. 



In the future we shall undoubtedly avoid using 



<7 



whole organs and tissues for our researches, but 

 shall select particular types of cells ; and we shall 

 have to be particularly careful in deciding, whether 

 the tissue used is normal or modified. It is quite con- 

 ceivable that, in certain diseases, only those tissues 

 are decomposed which have been modified in a 

 particular manner. In such a case the diseased tissue 

 would be altered in such a way, that the substances 

 that are out of harmony with the plasma would be 

 more or less in disharmony with the cells of the 

 normal organ ; by which we mean, that compounds 

 and decomposites would appear, which have com- 

 pletely disharmonious activities. And indeed, it 

 would be possible to imagine that products would be 

 formed that are out of harmony with the entire body, 



