1G5 



cally homologous with the secretion poured out by glands. 

 In doing this I have foreshadowed what it is now necessary 

 for the completion of my scheme to state distinctly, viz. that 

 I consider the formation of plasm as distinctly a process of 

 secretion as the storing np of oil. The formation of plasm 

 is surely as much a secretion as the formation of fibrin. Just 

 as the nucleus assimilates nutrient material and proliferates, 

 so does the lymph-corpuscle ; just as the nucleus secretes 

 embryonic plasm, so does the lymph-corpuscle secrete fibrin ; 

 just as the nucleus secretes oil, so does the lymph-corpuscle 

 secrete the red blood-corpuscle. 



Certain minds will feel a re2:)ugnance to these notions, 

 because substances of small chemical complexity are asso- 

 ciated as histologically homologous to substances of great 

 chemical complexity. But who can draw the line between 

 silica, calcium carbonate, urea, oil sugar, albumen, and 

 other protein compounds? Some, again, may object on the 

 grounds of physical complexity. But surely we may see 

 a certain gradation from slime to silk, to byssus, to elaetic 

 fibre, to muscular fibre. 



I have persistently marked out two groups of secretions — 

 two broad classes ; but as they go on in many cases synchro - 

 nously, a difficulty in nomenclature arises, for so little is 

 known of the directive agency manifested in secretion by 

 means of which one secretion passes out at one side of a 

 cell to go back into the blood, and another exudes from 

 the other side to leave the gland, while at the same time 

 plasm continues to be secreted, and the nucleus to grow. 

 If my scheme of reconciliation be a natural one, it should 

 be of the same value to the pathologist as ip the physiolo- 

 gist. But the morbid variations of physiological functions 

 require for their explanation a far more extensive know- 

 ledge of physiological chemistry than we at present possess. 

 Still, in cases where we have only an exaggeration of 

 healthy processes, we may, at least, expect to find fresh 

 machinery. Prominent in this class are the abnormalities 

 of assimilation manifested by nuclear growth. If any living 

 tissue be torn, or otherwise injured, local congestion results. 

 Assimilation, under these circumstances, goes on witli 

 unusual rapidity, in consequence of the increased supply 

 of nutriment. The healthy nuclei surfeit themselves on the 

 nearly stagnant blood, and suddenly grow and mu.ltiply. 

 Soon Ave find a swarm of nuclei on the spot. These set to 

 work like navvies after an accident to clear away obstacles, 

 or fill up chasms, as the necessities of the case may require. 

 These navvies, it is said, are brought by vessels, and 



VOL. X. NEW SER. M 



