xVill AUTHOR’S PREFACE. 
was nor could be recognised in it; for the conformity of the 
principle of development consists chiefly in the similar origin of 
these granules themselves, and this circumstance was not known, 
indeed the term granules or granulous mass was sometimes 
used to denote the entire cells, sometimes the nuclei, and some- 
times granulous substances which form to a certain extent 
as chemical precipitates, and have no direct connexion with 
the elementary cells of organised bodies. 
I communicated a preliminary review of the results gained, 
and which already comprehended most of the tissues, in the 
beginning of the year 1838, in Froriep’s ‘ Notizen,’ Nos. 91, 
103, and 112. The detailed description required a longer 
time ; the first two portions of the present Treatise were placed 
before the Academy of Paris in August and December, 1838. 
J. Miller and Henle have already applied the theory to the 
most important pathological processes, and it now only requires 
to be extended to comparative anatomy, particularly amongst 
the lower animals. 
At the conclusion of the Treatise I have attempted a theory 
of organisms, and for that purpose have excluded everything 
theoretical from the work itself, in order that facts might not 
be confused with hypothetical matter. The theory has at 
least this advantage, that by its aid any one may form a pre- 
cise idea for himself of the organic processes, which may con- 
duct to new researches; such a theory may therefore be of 
use, even if assumed to be decidedly false. It contains the 
principles of the organic phenomena, both of the healthy and 
diseased organism. It was my intention to have added an 
application of the theory to the several organic processes ;_ but 
circumstances compelled me to bring the work to a conclusion. 
Perhaps at some future time I may find opportunity to fill up 
the deficiency. 
Berlin, March 1839. 
