DR. BEALE, ON THE TISSUES. 245 



changes^ lie would endeavour to show that it is the least 

 active part of the tissues, and that it does not possess forma- 

 tive power at all. Neither did he think that cells efi'ected 

 any alteration in the substance external to them. Living 

 structures were, he believed, quite incapable of exerting any 

 important action on matter at a distance from them. He 

 could not think that the cell (elementary part) could be 

 formed from a fluid exudation, but believed, with Virchow, 

 that in all cases cellular elements must have existed wherever 

 cells were found. He believed that every organic compound 

 in the body was once living, or had been derived from a living 

 structure. Albumen in the blood, as such, was not living, 

 but it had been formed by living matter, and might again 

 become living if appropriated by a living structure. 



Appearances actually observed. — Some of the appearances 

 connected with the structure of elementary parts which might 

 be readily demonstrated were then enumerated. It was re- 

 marked that any theory proposed should be equally applicable 

 to all these dift'erent cases ; and if it would not account for 

 the phenomena^ it should, at least^ not be incompatible with 

 any one. 



1. The presence of a distinct membrane (cell-wall) , perme- 

 able to fluids, forming an investment to each elementary part, 

 and containing within clear, transparent or granular matter, 

 at rest or in motion. 



3. The absence of any such membrane over every part of 

 the surface, so that protrusions occurring from different parts 

 extend to a considerable distance, and where they come into 

 contact coalescence takes place, and then the most varied 

 forms are produced. 



3. A very thick external investment, perfectly homo- 

 geneous, granular, or in distinct layers, varying in thickness 

 and density, or resembling each other in these particulars. 



4. The formation of insoluble substances, as well as the 

 presence of matter in solution amongst the living matter 

 within the external membrane. 



5. The presence of a large or small quantity of a peculiar 

 material, homogeneous, granular, deposited in laminae, or 

 fibrous (intercellular substance), between the so-called cells 

 or nuclei. 



6. The absence of such a structure in another part of the 

 same tissue. 



7. Elementary parts with nuclei and nucleoli, or destitute 

 of both. 



8. The formation of fibres projecting from the envelope of 

 the elementary part. 



