THE BEGINNINGS OF IIFE. 317 



masses of dense interlaced fungus-filaments, and of 

 more or less altered and agglutinated milk-globules. So 

 that one can only conclude, as Turpin ^ suggests, that 

 ^ Ics globules laiteux, arretes et accumules dans les voles 

 d'une mamelle surirritee et engorgee, y avaient produit 

 lorsqu'ils vivaient encore, les filam.ents byssoides et 

 mucedinees comme cela se voit chez les globules laiteux 

 abandonnees a eux-memes sous ^influence de I'air et de 

 Toxygene -.' 



This metamorphosis of the milk-globule may be most 

 suitably com.pared with other heterogenetic changes 

 which have been made known more recently by 

 M. Trecul, one of the most distinguished botanists in 

 France, as occurring within the tissues of many 

 flowering plants and shrubs. 



It may easily be imagined that the aerial leaves of 

 ordinary plants and trees are not favourably situated 

 for the occurrence of evolutional changes- in their 

 interior. The living matter of which they are com- 

 posed is exposed too much to the drying influence of 

 the air, and to other adverse conditions, to enable it to 

 give birth to anything save Fungus-germs, or similarly 

 low organisms. And as for their internal tissues — the 

 fluid or semi-fluid portions of these being cut oflF 

 from the free access of air, and also distributed for the 



^ ' Mem. de I'Acad. des Sciences,' 1840, t. xvii. p. 232. 



- M. Turpin, moreover, suggested that a similar germination of the 

 milk-globules might take place occasionally in the mammary ducts of 

 women after child-birth, when the exit of the milk is delayed and 

 the breast is irritated and inflamed. 



