l88 DISEASE GERMS 



appropriate the nutrient matter which is required by 

 the bioplasm of the tissue, but they may even grow at 

 the expense of the latter, Plates XXIV and XXV. 



The bioplasm of the tissue may be killed and the 

 tissue completely destroyed. The latter very soon 

 ceases to discharge its function, and gradually it dete- 

 riorates in structure, and at length undergoes disinte- 

 gration. Bacteria may be developed in it, and its 

 decomposition may even occur in consequence of the 

 rapid growth and multiplication of the germs of some 

 contagious fever. In Plate XXVI will be found draw- 

 ings, which illustrate some of the remarks just made, 

 and in Plate XXV, fig. 99, is a drawing which shows 

 very well the vast growth of bioplasm amongst the 

 vesicles of adipose tissue in ordinary inflammation. 



We have now to inquire more precisely into the 

 circumstances under which the wonderful increase of 

 the poison is brought about. There are two views 

 essentially different from one another, which may be 

 supported by different arguments. 



I. It might be maintained that the contagious ma- 

 terial actually passing into certain portions of the living 

 germinal matter of the organism excited in these 

 new actions, and caused them to divide and sub-divide 

 very actively, and communicated to them the same 

 properties which the original particle possessed, 

 somewhat in the manner in which the wonderful 

 powers existing in connexion with the germinal 

 matter of the spermatozoon are communicated to 

 that of the ovum and affect to some extent every one 



