137 



were not loose particles of oil, the author considered to be proved by 

 the following facts : — 1st, They float in a fluid, roll freely over each 

 other, and do not unite. 2dly, They possess the property of endos- 

 mosis and exosmosis. Zdli/, An excess of ether dissolves them, leav- 

 ing behind a molecular mass, ^thlt/. Acetic acid dissolves the albu- 

 minous envelope, leaving the oil unafiected, when the globules are 

 easily made to unite, bthly. Mechanical means are necessary to 

 extract the butter from milk in the dairy ; the act of churning lace- 

 rates the minute envelopes. The author obtained the same results 

 with the globules formed artificially by the union of oil and albu- 

 men. On mixing oil with other glutinous substances, however, such 

 as gelatine, gum, and syrup, ho could not obtain the haptogen mem- 

 brane of Ascherson, and he found that the mechanical globules so 

 formed, readily united together when at rest. That a delicate al- 

 buminous membrane possesses the property of rolling up and unit- 

 ing its edges so as to form shut sacs, the author has demonstrated, 

 by lacerating nerve tubes, which may then be seen under the micro- 

 scope to form globules with double lines. From all these facts it was 

 concluded that the globules of milk, as well as those formed mechani- 

 cally by the union of oil and albumen, were structures composed of 

 an envelope and contents, and that they were endowed from tho 

 moment of their formation with the physical property of endosmosis 

 and exosmosis. 



The author then alluded to the elementary molecules, granules, 

 and nuclei found in the blastema of all organised formations, which, 

 he agreed with Ascherson, might be demonstrated to possess a like 

 composition and structure to the globules formerly described. He 

 quoted some recent experiments of Professor Matteucci, which proved 

 that an oily emulsion would pass through a membrane by endosmosis, 

 if the fluid on the other side was slightly alkaline. He noticed also 

 the fact ascertained by Donne, that after the removal of the globules 

 from milk, the remaining fluid contained fat in solution. He thought 

 there would be no diflSculty now in recognising that the action of 

 the stomach and intestines was directed to the formation of an emul- 

 sion of oil and albumen, which, on passing through the intestinal 

 walls, constituted the basis of chyle, and that the property of endos- 

 mosis and exosmosis must be in continual operation in elementary 

 molecules, nuclei, and cells. 



The structures found in milk, or produced mechanically by the 

 nion of oil and albumen, are not vital structures, but when formed 



