264 



say, they become active, accumulate in masses, and divide, 

 either partially or wholly, or not at all. 



From the preceding remarks it is evident that the quality 

 of beinsr brought to such a condition is not limited to one or 

 two groups of form-elements. It has, moreover, been ren- 

 dered sufficiently prominent that the stability of the mole- 

 cular equipoise varies in different forms of tissue. 



Horny matter and connective substance (the cellular 

 elements being excepted) have, without doubt, the greatest 

 stability. It has, indeed, been much questioned whether in 

 these sufficient traces of a substance of unstable equipoise 

 can be found to characterise them as living organisms. We 

 can scarcely expect a ncAv growth to consist of them. 



On the other hand, there are the amoeboid cells, the mole- 

 cular equipoise of which is the most unstable. Investigations 

 on the irritated cornea have, in fact, shown that these bodies 

 are the first to undergo change, and, as examination of the 

 frog's tongue has proved, they are the first to divide. 



In what gradation we must arrange all the tissues with 

 regard to their irritability, will have to be decided by special 

 work. Such gradation, however, does exist. In the process 

 of inflammation we have no exclusive position to assign to the 

 connective-tissue-cells or epithelial cells ; we have cells pos- 

 sessed of slight, and cells possessed of much, stability ; cells 

 such as, under certain influences, soon fall away from their 

 physiological aims, and others which are less ready to do so. 



It has been also shown that variations may occur in the 

 same form of tissue, since the ramified cells of the cornea are 

 not all affected in the same way. This experience compels 

 us to imagine a gradation of age in the adjacent corneal 

 bodies. It is not improbable that there are some of these 

 bodies which do not multiply — matrons which no longer bear 

 children. 



