DR. BEALE, ON THE TISSUES. 93 



existed at au earlier period in the first state, but which is 

 now formed, and destitute of the powers referred to. 



2. That the only part of a living structure which possesses 

 the power of selecting pabulum and transforming this into 

 various substances of growth, and of reproduction, is the active 

 substance or germinal matter, ' 



3. That the germinal matter possesses the power of growing 

 infinitely, but that it always grows under certain restrictions. 

 The rapidity of its growth or extension is determined by cer- 

 tain conditions. 



4. In all living beings the matters upon which existence 

 depends is the germinal matter, and in all living structures 

 the germinal matter possesses the same general characters 

 although its powers and the results of its life are so very dif- 

 ferent. 



5. An increase in the number of elementary parts always 

 results from the division and subdivision of the masses of 

 germinal matter. In many cases portions project some dis- 

 tance from the general mass and then become detached. 



6. A mass of germinal matter which is endowed with 

 powers difierent to those of the germinal matter from which it 

 was derived, always originates as a new centre (nucleus or 

 nucleolus) in pre-existing germinal matter. The origin of 

 new centres is from witliiu centres, or endogenously, but 

 the mass of germinal matter which results multiplies by divi- 

 sion. 



7. During the life of every elementary part, a movement 

 of the particles of the germinal matter takes place in a definite 

 direction, from centre to circumference, and it is probable 

 that by this movement of the particles from centres, the 

 transmission of the nutrient substances in the opposite direc- 

 tion is ensured. 



8. The relative portions of germinal matter and formed 

 material vary greatly in different elementary parts, in the 

 same elementary part at different periods of its growth, and 

 in the same tissue under difierent circumstances. The more 

 rapidly growth proceeds, the larger the absolute amount of ger- 

 minal matter produced in proportion to the formed material. 

 Rapidly growing structures are soft and easily disintegrated. 

 Firm dense tissues are of slow growth, and the hardened 

 formed material of which they mainly consist, resists disinte- 

 gration and change. 



9. The pus-corpuscle is a mass of genninal matter in 

 direct descent from the germinal matter of an elementary 

 part. The conditions under which the growth of the ger- 

 minal matter has taken place have been such as to cause its 



