1 8 GENERAL HISTOLOGY. 



uble or gaseous matter at once. It may combine with oxygen 

 and be eliminated. If it be imperfectly oxidized, it ma}- lead 

 to pathological changes. Thus imperfect oxidization of mus- 

 cular tissue, etc., may result in fatty degeneration, and similar 

 defect in other organs may lead to an accumulation of uric 

 acid, oxalates and fatty matter in the blood, or to leucin, tyro- 

 sin, etc., in the liver. 



V. THE PHYS10LOCY OF BIOPLASM. 



The special functions of living matter are the vital properties 

 which are common to all bioplasm. The}' are what the living 

 can do which the non-living cannot do. 



I. Spontaneous motion is shown by all bioplasm and distin- 

 guishes it from the non-living, We are familiar with various 

 movements among inorganic bodies, but they are wholly dis- 

 similar to the motion of living matter. We see motion pro- 

 duced by the impact of one mass against another. We wit- 

 ness the regular movements of the planets. We observe 

 molecular vibrations in consequence of heat, light or electric- 

 ity. But in all these cases the body is acted upon by a force 

 exterior to itself, while bioplasm is self-acting. It can origi- 

 nate motion and overcome inertia. The movements of bio- 

 plasm are molecular or inherent, amoeboid and wandering. 



(1) The inherent, or molecular, motions must not be con- 

 founded with a microscopic phenomenon called Brunonian 

 motion, which is a vibratile movement of fine particles sus- 

 pended in fluid. The molecular movements of transparent, 

 jelly-like bioplasm maybe seen in the microscope by observing 

 accidental granules, or cavities, which are often imbedded in 



O 



it. The motion is in all directions, upwards, downwards, or 

 siclewise. Max Schultze compares the molecular motions in a 

 thread of bioplasm to the movements of passengers in a 

 crowded street, some of whom go straight on, while others 

 turn or stop and move on again at their own will. 



(2) Amoeboid movements are so called because first observed 

 in the amoeba, an animalcule similar in appearance to leuco- 

 cytes, or white blood cells, and other bioplasmic masses. Such 

 are continually changing shape by the protrusion or retraction 



