Dll. MEAhE, ON THE TISSUKS, 21 



of firumt-ss^ streiigtli, or elasticity retjidc : lor tlic cells 

 (masses of goruiiiial matter) certainly do not ])ossess any 

 such characters. If, then, this substance can increase itself", 

 wherefore are the cells present at all ? The universality of 

 the presence of germinal matter is meaningless, and its 

 abundance in all rapidly-growing tissues, its gradual diminu- 

 tion as the formed material increases, and the deterioration 

 in the properties of the tissue constantly associated with its 

 abnormal increase or with its death, are facts which do not 

 receive explanation. 



If l)oth cells and intercellular substance require to be 

 nourished, what regulates the exact supply so that neither 

 increases upon the domains of the other ? And hoAV is it 

 that the selected powers of eacli are exactly balanced ? 



The investing membrane of a spore or a portion of the 

 stem of mildew, or other simple plant, corresponds to the so- 

 called intercellular matrix of tendon, cartilage, &c. If the 

 latter grows by selecting substances from the nutrient fluid 

 which bathes it, the former must be produced by selecting 

 substances from the fluid which surrounds it. But I have 

 shoMu that the inner germinal matter may diminish as the 

 cell- wall increases in thickness, and that while there arc 

 many examples of germinal matter which is not surrounded 

 with a distinct cell-wall or intercellular substance, there is 

 not an instance of the latter existing in a gi'owing state Avith- 

 out the former. When the mildew grows, so far from the 

 outer material or cell -wall increasing iu thickness, it becomes 

 thinner. It is the germinal matter within which increases. 

 The germinal matter alone grows, and the more rapidly it 

 increases the thinner is the external membrane (formed 

 material) found to be. A small portion of the germinal 

 matter of the mildew placed under favorable conditions will 

 grow and will produce the formed material or cell-wall, but 

 the cell-wall from Avhich the germinal matter has been re- 

 moved will not grow under any circumstances Avhatever. 

 The envelope or cell- wall exhibits the same characters after 

 the death of the germinal matter as it possessed during its 

 life, but the germinal matter undergoes very rapid changes 

 after death : it soon becomes liquefied, passes into decompo- 

 sition, and various chemical compounds are formed which 

 did not exist during its life, which, in fact, are incompatible 

 with its life and with the changes which occur while it is 

 alive. 



Cells or nuclei {germinal Matter). — The germinal matter of 

 connective tissues differs remarkably in its arrangement, as 

 has been stated. Although in manv cases in the adidt tissue 



