CELL INCREASE. 



57 



Of the Increase of Cells. 



Several distinct modes of cell increase or multiplication 

 have been described, but in all cases the process depends 

 upon the germinal matter only. It is this which divides ; and 

 it is the only part of the cell which is actively concerned in 

 the process of multiplication. It may divide into two or 

 more equal portions, or give off many buds or offsets, each 

 of which grows as a separate body as soon as it is detached. 

 PL VIII. 



The formed material of the cell is perfectly passive in 

 the process of increase and multiplication. If soft or 

 diffluent, a portion of this may collect around each of the 

 masses into which the germinal matter has divided, but it 

 does not grow or move in and form a partition, as has often 

 been stated. When a septum or partition exists, it results 

 not from "growing in," but it is simply produced by a portion 

 of the germinal matter undergoing conversion into formed 

 material of which the partition is composed. PI. V, fig. 15 

 a and b. 



Of tJie Changes in the Cell in Disease. 



I have endeavoured to show that of the different con- 

 stituents of the fully formed cell, the germinal matter is 

 alone concerned in all active change. This is in fact the 

 only portion of the cell which lives, while at an early period 

 of development, some of the structures usually regarded as 

 essential to cell existence are altogether absent, and the cell 

 is but a mass of germinal matter. But it must be borne in 

 mind that at all periods of life, in certain parts of the 

 textures and organs, and in the nutrient fluids, are masses 



