THEIR INCREASE IN NUMBER. 



107 



some years ago. A fine bundle is seen at a, from 

 which point it may be readily followed, as it divides 

 into finer branches, ramifications of which are seen in 

 every part of the drawing. The bundles of unstriped 

 muscular fibres are marked b, while the bioplasm 

 masses of the connective tissue corpuscles are repre- 

 sented here and there in the intervals. 



So far I have endeavoured to show that the masses 

 of germinal matter or bioplasm which are to be 

 found in all parts of the tissues of man and the 

 higher animals at every period of life, and suspended 

 in the nutrient fluids, notwithstanding very remark- 

 able differences in power, exhibit the same general 

 characters as those manifested by the living matter 

 of the lowest animals and plants. In all cases it is 

 the bioplasm only which lives and grows and multi- 

 plies. Moreover, attention has been especially 

 directed to the fact that the rate of growth of the 

 bioplasm varies according to the scarcity or abundance 

 of the nutrient material, and to the rapidity of its 

 access. The bioplasts (white blood- corpuscles) of the 

 blood increase in number, when the fluid in which 

 they are suspended moves slowly as at an early period 

 of life before the propelling apparatus is fully de- 

 veloped, or at any period of life when the circulation 

 is retarded from any cause whatever. 



This remarkable growth and multiplication of the 

 blood bioplasts seems to be determined by the altered 

 conditions under which life is carried on without any 



