xviii AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



was nor could be recognised in it ; for the conformity of the 

 principle of development consists chiefly in the similar origin of 

 these granules themselves, and this circumstance was not known, 

 indeed the term granules or granulous mass was sometimes 

 used to denote the entire cells, sometimes the nuclei, and some- 

 times granulous substances which form to a certain extent 

 as chemical precipitates, and have no direct connexion with 

 the elementary cells of organised bodies. 



I communicated a preliminary review of the results gained, 

 and which already comprehended most of the tissues, in the 

 beginning of the year 1838, in Froriep's ' Notizen/ Nos. 91, 

 103, and 112. The detailed description required a longer 

 time ; the first two portions of the present Treatise were placed 

 before the Academy of Paris in August and December, 1838. 

 J. Miiller and Henle have already applied the theory to the 

 most important pathological processes, and it now only requires 

 to be extended to comparative anatomy, particularly amongst 

 the lower animals. 



At the conclusion of the Treatise I have attempted a theory 

 of organisms, and for that purpose have excluded everything 

 theoretical from the work itself, in order that facts might not 

 be confused with hypothetical matter. The theory has at 

 least this advantage, that by its aid any one may form a pre- 

 cise idea for himself of the organic processes, which may con- 

 duct to new researches; such a theory may therefore be of 

 use, even if assumed to be decidedly false. It contains the 

 principles of the organic phenomena, both of the healthy and 

 diseased organism. It was my intention to have added an 

 application of the theory to the several organic processes ; but 

 circumstances compelled me to bring the work to a conclusion. 

 Perhaps at some future time I may find opportunity to fill up 

 the deficiency. 



Berlin, March 1839. 



