Introduction to Animal Morphology. 9 



\Ve know little regarding the genesis of any of the 

 albuminoids or of the conditions under which proto- 

 plasm is formed. Analogy favours the possibility of 

 the artificial formation of this substance, as we can 

 form fibrin, casein, &c., from their isomeric relatives. 

 This hypothetic production of protoplasm is called 

 Abiogcncsis or Archcbiosis. Experiments* on this 

 point have been made by exposing albuminous in- 

 fusions to high temperatures, and then hermetically 

 sealing them in vessels. In the course of time minute 

 plastides have been found herein, which are called, if 

 straight, Bacteria, if coiled, Vibriones and Spirilla. 

 If Bacteria be destroyed by a heat of 140 F., and if 

 the fluid have been raised above this point, the reason- 

 ing is that the subsequently developed plastides are 

 formed by Abiogenesis ; but Co/in has shown that in 

 clumps Bacteria may escape destruction even at a 



It was long supposed that another body, towhich the name Margarin 

 was given, existed in animal fats, but its presence in such fats is doubtful. 



Some special fats are Beeswax, which consists of melissyl palmitate 

 (CsoH 6 i, CieHsjOa), cerotic acid HC27H 53 O 2 2, and cerolein. 



Butters from milk contain olein, palmitin, butic acid (HC 2 oH3gO 2 ), and 

 Butyric acid (HCit^Oa), and sometimes other acids with glycerin. 



Spermaceti or cetin consists of cetyl palmitate CieHaa, Ci 6 H 31 Oi, and 



on saponification an alcohol-like body named Ethal CjcH^OH. 



Cellulose CeHioOj is found in the mantles of Tunicates. Starch 



exists in some Infusoria. Glucose is found in insect secretions, &c. 



Inosi: ; Lactose Ci 2 H 22 On + H 2 O, in milk ; l^rehahse Ci 8 H M Ou 



- 2\\ t O in the larva of Larinus nidificans ; Scvllitc, in shark's flesh ; 



' .'oHjoOs), in the liver. Besides these are numerous other prin- 



cretions in several glands. 



The condition- of tl -m-nt of lift- in such experiments are : 



'imminoid lluid. mo<! :\<\ light. Kven a partial 



vacui. . ui'iii <fb.u tcii.i. Jlnititin found bacteria 



I ammonic phosphate and sodic phosphate, and of 



antimonic ; 



