112 THE CELL DOCTRINE. 



stance; so that we would, with Beale, define a carti- 

 lage cell, or elementary part of cartilage as com- 

 posed of germinal matter, with as much surrounding 

 formed material as extends half way to the adjacent 

 germinal matter. So with the elementary part of 

 connective tissue, muscle, and nerve. 



Oil and starch are also formed matter, conveniently 

 designated by Dr. Beale as secondary formed matter, 

 and result, also, from a conversion of the germinal 

 matter. 



As already stated, the proportion in which these 

 two constituents are present, is various. Thus, in 

 the amoeba, in the white blood disc, in the pus and 

 mucous corpuscle, we have almost pure germinal mat- 

 ter, with a scarcely appreciable ring of formed mat- 

 ter on its periphery; while in the old epithelial cell 

 we have almost pure formed material with a mere 

 point of germinal matter, constituting the nucleus 

 near its centre; and in the red blood disc, we have 

 pure structureless formed matter, yet matter of which 

 we should long hesitate to speak as dead. In old 

 tendon, again, the proportion of formed material is 

 large, and germinal matter small, while in young 

 tendon the reverse proportion exists. 



The cell, as thus constituted, and originating only 

 in the germinal matter of a previously existing cell, 

 we believe to be the starting-point of alt life action, be it 

 healthy or morbid. Out of this cell, all tissues, simple 

 and complex, are constructed. 



We believe, also, that the proper shaping, arrange- 

 ment, and function of these elementary parts is not a 

 process identical or analogous to crystallization, tak- 



