DEFENSIVE FERMENTS OF THE ANIMAL ORGANISM 2/ 



contrary, we always rind mixtures of these. So 



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that, given quite similar compounds, e.g., several 

 albumens, the cell has the power of making up mix- 

 tures of various kinds which give it a special stamp. 

 By these means we see then that the possibilities for 

 the production of specifically constructed kinds of 

 cells are infinite. Xo one would be able to calculate 

 the number that would account for all these possi- 

 bilities. 



We take it as probable, on the strength of numerous 

 observations, that all through the animal kingdom 



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similar organs show, besides their specific, and 

 possibly individual characters, certain features which 

 are common to all species of animals. All that is 

 required is the recurrence of a particular albumen in 

 the cell. We conjecture this from the fact that experi- 

 ments have shown that certain ferments, when they 

 act on albumen of a special kind, show specificity 

 for the organ, but yet are not specific for any par- 

 ticular animal species. It is probable that we are 

 here on the track of an important biological law. 



Yet, in spite of these similar or kindred features, 

 each species and individual retains, by means of the 

 mixing of its cell components, the cell organization 

 peculiar to its kind. If a single group be repeated 

 but once only, the ferment that acts on it finds a 

 point of attack. We lay stress on these points, 

 because a casual consideration of the fact that in the 



