THE CELL DOCTRINE. 79 



scribed as cell contents is really formed matter. (Figs. 

 5 and 6 of Plate.) More nearly does the germinal mat- 

 ter of Beale* correspond with the "protoplasm" of 

 Max Schultze, with which, indeed, it seems identical, 

 except that the latter observer seems somewhat at a 

 loss how to dispose of the nucleus, of which he does 

 not speak as a new or young centre of protoplasm. 



Formed material, instead of being active, so far as 

 the vital acts described as characteristic of germinal 

 matter are concerned, is passive, non-acting, dead, and 

 can only increase at the expense and death of the 

 germinal matter, on the periphery of which it is 

 formed. It differs widely in its appearance, and is 

 often "structured" as in muscle and nerve, but not 

 necessarily so, as is seen in the intercellular sub- 

 stance of hyaline cartilage. It possesses also cer- 

 tain properties, different in different situations, and 

 widely different also from those of germinal matter. 

 Thus it is contractile in the sarcous tissue of muscle, 

 exhibits neurility in the nerve, is protective in epi- 

 thelium, is diffluent as the formed material of the 

 milk-cell (milk), and in the formed material of the 

 liver-cell (bile). Again, it is hard and elastic in the 

 intercellular substance of cartilage, and epidermis, 

 horn and nails. It does not become stained on being 

 soaked in weak solution of carmine in ammonia, and 

 if by reason of the strength of the solution it should 

 happen to be stained, the color will wash out on 

 soaking in glycerine, which is not the case with the 

 coloring of the germinal matter. 



* Beale, Protoplasm; or, Life, Force, and Matter. London: 

 1870, p. 38. 



