1 84 PROTOPLASM 



concerning the structure of protoplasm. According to his 

 experience, which is founded principally upon the investi- 

 gation of vegetable cells, protoplasm and nucleus consist of 

 long, hollow, spirally twisted fibrils, the so-called " Spiro- 

 fibrillse." Several of such fibrils are supposed to be usually 

 " twisted in such a manner that they form the walls of 

 hollow strings, which are again twisted in their turn." The 

 last -mentioned "hollow strings" are termed by Fayod 

 " Spirospartse." The cavities of the Spirospartse and Spiro- 

 fibrillae are said to be filled in the normal condition by 

 " granular plasma." Spirospartse pass from the protoplasm 

 into the nucleus and vice versa, and also can frequently be 

 traced from one cell into a neighbouring one, so that " the 

 cell loses its value as a morphological and physiological 

 unit." 



These results were obtained in vegetable cells, chiefiy by 

 injection with quicksilver, by which method Fayod believes he 

 filled the cavities of the Spirospartse and Spirofibrillae with 

 metal. In animal cells, which he also investigated, he made 

 use, as a rule, of other means. I need scarcely state that, 

 supported by the results of my investigations, I must deny 

 Fayod's statements altogether. It could only be a matter of 

 clearing up what it was exactly that this investigator injected 

 with quicksilver, for there can be no question that it was 

 not protoplasmic fibrils. Since I was not in a position to 

 repeat Fayod's experiments myself, I will not attempt to 

 express a supposition on this point. But in order to point 

 out the character of Fayod's views, I may refer to his remarks 

 upon the blood of vertebrates. Fayod thinks he has con- 

 vinced himself that the " blood plasma " also consists of 

 Spirofibrillae, and that they penetrate here and there into the 

 " Hsematoblasts." In this case it may be taken as suffi- 

 ciently clear that Fayod has mistaken coagulations of fibrin 

 for Spirofibrillaa. 



2. The so-called Spherular Theory of Kunstler 



In the year 1882 Kunstler developed a most peculiar view 

 with regard to the structure of the protoplasm in a number 



