1 88 1. 43 Trafis. A\ Y. Ac. Set. 



weak, broken down or phthisical person, will be finely granular and ex- 

 hibit a network with large meshes on account of the relatively small 

 amount of living matter in it. Sometimes we thus, from the examin- 

 ation of a drop of blood, gain an insight into the condition and vital 

 power of the whole individual ; sometimes, recognize a disease before 

 it is sufficiently developed to do much harm, and thus come a step 

 nearer to the highest aim of the physician— the prevention of disease. 



DISCUSSION. 



Dr. B. N. Martin remarked on the great value and important bear- 

 ing of this investigation. 



Mr. A. H. Elliott enquired whether the blocks of non-living matter in 

 the cartilage were entirely separated. 



Dr. Elsberg explained that the blocks were separate, their only con- 

 nection being the interposed threads of the reticulum of living matter ; 

 and to the former is due the opalescent character of hyaline cartilage. 

 He further stated that the condition of health of an individual might be 

 inferred in a degree from a study of the character of the network, a thin 

 section of a very minute portion of the body often showing a difference 

 of network in different persons, e.g., in the thickness of the threads, 

 the size of the meshes, the character of the points of intersection, etc. 

 From the uniformity in the size of the meshes, etc., or from their 

 variability, or from the proportion of corpuscles presenting a normal 

 and abnormal character in their network, a good or bad prognosis was 

 deduced by the physician, and even an indication of the progress of 

 disease. 



Prof. E. H. Day referred to the wonderful character of protoplasm 

 in its wide results in the construction of the most varying textures in 

 the vegetable and animal kingdoms. The speaker's observations have 

 brought the protoplasm of cartilage tissue into correspondence with 

 that in the tissues of the sponge, of the plant, and all the lower forms 

 of life. In protoplasm we are brought face to face with the most 

 astonishing substance in nature. 



Mr. J. D. Warner offered objections to the vague views of Virchow 

 on the soul of the cell and its relation to the soul of the individual. 



Dr. Newberry said that, having been educated as a physician, and 

 having studied microscopic anatomy under Dr. Charles Robin, he had 

 followed with great interest the progress of modern research into the 

 ultimate structure of organic tissue, and the discussions of the origin 

 and seat of vitality to which it has given rise ; and he regarded such 

 investigations as those of Dr. Elsberg as of the highest scientific 

 interest and practical value. If we ever learn the causes of malarial 

 and infectious diseases, or the cure of the morbid growths which are 



