CYTOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS 13 



leucocytes are their centrosomes. The so-called nuclei 

 of leucocytes ought, we think, in reality, always to be 

 called the centrosomes, and the word "nucleus" deleted 

 from their morphology. We have done our best to 

 retain the usual cytological terms in the senses in which 

 they are usually employed; but we must ask some 

 indulgence when referring to those cells in which 

 divisions have been seen for the first time, and in which 

 these divisions differ very materially from those which 

 occur in other types of cells. Again, we use the defini- 

 tion "amoeboid" for the exaggerated movements 

 exhibited by cells under the influence of alkaloids, 

 but it must be understood that these movements 

 differ from the blunt and sedate amoeboid move- 

 ments which are commonly seenthat is to say, 

 they are far more exaggerated and are absolutely 

 characteristic. 



We think that, from the persistent examination of 

 dead structures, cytology has been rather led away 

 into a maze from which it will be difficult to extricate 

 it; and it is possible that pathology may have to be 

 modified in some of its points now that we know 

 a great deal more regarding the causes of the prolifera- 

 tion of cells. * 



The last point to which attention must be directed 

 is, that one ought to be careful how attempts are made 

 to demonstrate new facts observed by this method to 

 other people. If the specimen is actually under the 

 microscope, and other people are present, then, of 

 course, a few persons can see the new fact. But these 

 living cells never last long, and many has the occasion 



