lOG Thk Microsoopk. 



seems to be to bring itself into proper relationship with some 

 rod-shaped individual. Several of the granules may occasionally 

 be seen at the same time clinging to the sides of a rod, but they 

 do not long remain in that position. When, however, one has 

 brought itself fairly in contact with one of the extremities of 

 the rod, it is quite likely to remain in that position — speedily 

 losing its identity and apparently becoming fused to the rod. 



What is the real significance of this phenomenon ? Is it con- 

 jugation ? Is it the way the rod grows in length ? Is it one 

 of the preliminaries to the formation of the prothallus ? Will 

 some one kindly tell us all about it? 



CYTOLOGY, OR CELLULAR BIOLOGY. 



IV. — iriSTOltV OF THK SCIENCE (CONTINUED). 



SECOND PERiOD, 1840-1865. 



I'ROTOPLASM — THE PROPERTIES OF LIVING MATTER — (iKNERAL 



CONSTITUTION OF THE CELL. 



REV A. M. KIRSCH, C, S. C, 



PROFESSOR OF BIOLO(iV, NOTRE DAME UNI\'ERSITY. 



DURING the first period little had been done in the way of 

 elucidating the nature of the cell content considered as a 

 living substance. In general it was considered as a liquid or semi- 

 liquid mass, concerning the nature of which little was known ; 

 however, the presence of numerous granules and of certain pro- 

 teid substances had been noticed. 



At first living matter was called by various names, such as 

 organizing matter, forming matter, germinal matter, etc. Bris- 

 seau-Mirbel called it cambium, a name which had been used by 

 Duhamel ; and later Schleiden introduced the name mucus 

 (Schleim) as being found in vegetable cells. In 1835 Dujardin 

 had called the cell-content in Infusoria by the name of sarcode. 



As far as can be ascertained, the name protoplasm was first 

 introduced into science by Perkinje. To this view we are led by 

 Reichert who in 1841 makes an analysis of the researches of" 

 Perkinje from 1839-40. and expresses himself as follows : " Ac- 

 cording to Perkinje, there exists no precise analogy between the 

 two organic kingdoms, except with regard to the elementary 

 granules of the cambium of plants and the protoplasm of the 

 animal embrvo." 



