INTERMEDIATE METAMORPHOSIS OF MATTER. 445 



since it will be impossible properly to introduce the different 

 distances in the picture until the quantitative relations have been 

 established and the points of sight mathematically determined. 

 The present would seem a fitting place, in which to embrace the 

 entire metamorphosis of matter in one grand comprehensive 

 picture, which, being sketched in accordance with mathematical 

 rules, may represent all the individual parts in their natural and 

 real connection with one another. But unfortunately in physio- 

 logical chemistry we are sadly deficient in these mathematical 

 rules, by which alone we can ascertain the correct perspective of 

 the individual parts of this picture of vegetative life. 



There are very different methods by which we may obtain these 

 geometrical points of sight ; thus, for instance, in my investigations 

 regarding the function of the liver and the formation of bile, I 

 have adopted those points of sight which refer to the quantitative 

 relations of the juices flowing to and from the liver ; the results of 

 these experiments, which certainly exceeded the very limited expec- 

 tations I had formed of them, induced me in the case of other 

 organs also to compare the ingesta with the egesta, and indeed far 

 more important quantitative facts have already been obtained than 

 one could have anticipated from the difficulty of procuring these 

 egesta and ingesta in sufficient quantity, or in a condition adapted 

 for examination, and from the very great deficiency of the means 

 necessary for analysis. We have the more readily abstained from 

 giving the fragmentary results of these yet unfinished labours, as 

 they have already appeared in another place* with all the neces- 

 sary details, and would seem to be better adapted to some of the 

 earlier sections of this work. 



C.Schmidt* has endeavoured to determine the intermediate meta- 

 morphosis of tissue in another way, namely by a net-work of mathe- 

 matical lines; he simultaneously compared the constitution of the 

 different transudations and of the blood, and attempted to establish 

 the quantitative relations between the two, and to determine the 

 laws which influence the elimination of matters from the blood 

 through certain tissues into definite organs. We have incorporated 

 the most essential conclusions of this work in our second volume ; 

 but notwithstanding many brilliant facts and conclusions, it soon 

 became apparent that this method of investigation also failed in 

 affording us correct answers to many questions. 



In association with Bidder t Schmidt has tried a third method, 



* Ber. der k. sachs. Ges. d. Wiss. zu Leipzig. 1853. 

 t Charakteristik der Cholera u. s. w. 



