253 DR. BEALE^ ON THE TISSUES. 



changing, rapidly putrefies ; but in the lower, cold- blooded 

 animals the putrefactive change occurs very much more slowly, 

 and hence there is not the same necessity for the rapid con- 

 version of the dead tissue into living germinal matter. In 

 them the process which we know as suppuration does not 

 take placCj the changes, although they are the same in their 

 essential nature, do not go to the same extent. Dr. Beale 

 alluded to specimens of the growing elementary parts of the 

 cuticle of the frog, after injury^ which correspond exactly 

 with those from the human skin. 



The pus-corpuscle, as would be supposed from the above 

 remarks, is well coloured by carmine. 



The specimen of pus was to be compared, with a prepar- 

 ation showing the elementary parts of a rapidly growing fun- 

 gus, which reached the size of a small pear in a single night. 

 There was no absolute membrane of formed material sur- 

 rounding each mass of germinal matter. The rapid increase 

 of such a structure is marvellous, but it cannot live long, lie- 

 cause there is no provision for the equable distribution of 

 nutriment to all parts, or for removing the substances result- 

 ing from the death of the particles of germinal matter. The 

 consequence is, that the entire structure, having reached a 

 certain size, very soon dies. 



The free growth of the germinal matter in such cases is 

 very interesting, and the readiness with which we can, by the 

 action of colouring matters, distinguish the germinal matter 

 from the formed material, will, I think, enable us to regard 

 various morbid changes which appear now very complicated 

 from a much simpler point'of view. 



From the examination of the above specimens, it appears 

 that the germinal matter of elementary parts, growing under 

 certain conditions different to those existing generally, will, 

 if pabulum be abundant, multiply very freely. A number of 

 masses result, each of which is capable of producing new ones 

 by division, but only a very tliin layer of formed material in- 

 vesting each will be prodiiced, or it may not be possible to 

 demonstrate an investing membrane at all. On the other 

 hand, masses of germinal matter, which, in the normal state, 

 multiply very rapidly, and are therefore not surrounded by 

 formed material, may produce it, if placed under circum- 

 stances not favorable to their free increase. The white blood- 

 corpuscle, in a state of rest, and freely supplied with nutrient 

 matter, may even form weak fibres. In coagula of fibrin, 

 white corpuscles, from the surfaces of which fibres of consider- 

 able length projected, have been demonstrated, and it seems 

 probable that the relation of this fibrous material to the ger- 



