204 The Microscope. 



been developed. They may be considered as plasmodia from 

 the beginning or plasmodia by direct formation. 



But enough has been said to make the meaning clear. The 

 individualization of protoplasm in the form of a cell is the aim 

 of formative force in the organic world, but whether this typical 

 representation of the life unit is always and in every case rea- 

 lized is a different question. An old adage says, " No rule with- 

 out exceptions," and this seems to be especially the case in or- 

 ganic nature. 



In the second part of the thesis it is stated that a cell is " a 

 structured mass of protoplasm." Here I call the reader's atten- 

 tion to what has been said in the beginning of this paper. 

 Many authorities could be cited for and against this view, and 

 for that matter authorities differ upon almost every impor- 

 tant point in science, so that there is at least an apparent reason 

 for the oft expressed opinion that seldom two biologists agree on 

 the same point ; but then we have the consolation, that we are 

 not the only class of people to merit this reproach, for it may 

 Ije applied with equal justice to the philosophers, and I believe 

 these have the honor of priority. 



When I say that the cell is a structured mass of protoplasm, 

 •etc., I mean that it is endowed with organization, i. e., composed 

 of different parts which are united together in a determined 

 manner, and have different relations with each other. An ob- 

 server must be blind or his microscope is of the most primitive 

 pattern, if it does not show him that cells are more than a 

 homogeneous, amorphous or crystalline mass similar to inor- 

 ganic substance. My tube at least shows me in a cell separate 

 •elements, arranged according to a well defined pattern. On the 

 outside I notice a membrane, which is niore or less distinct, 

 closed, and possessing a certain resistance. Inside of this may 

 be noticed a viscous and apparently hyaline and homogeneous 

 mass, but studded with numerous granules (microsomata): 

 within this substance a peculiar body, the nucleus, which is also 

 limited by a membrane, and within which is also found a hya- 

 line substance, and in this substance are noticed curiously 

 shaped bodies, variable in size for different nuclei. Thus is 

 sketched in a few words the gross anatomy of the cell. But 

 this is only a superficial, and as it were, a macroscopic aspect oi 

 the cell structure. Arming the eye with the best of lenses and 



