2 oo ELIMINA TION. 



which are supposed to conduct this beneficial opera- 

 tion being active, it is probable they are perfectly 

 passive, and have nothing to do with removing the 

 disease-germs. So far from having any affinity for 

 the particles they are supposed to eliminate, the 

 secreting cells are damaged or destroyed by the 

 latter, which may take up pabulum which the normal 

 cells should have absorbed ; or in their escape from 

 the body the disease-germs may forcibly detach and 

 destroy the healthy tissue supposed to be instrumental 

 in elimination. 



Let me now try to determine what is generally 

 understood by this act of " elimination," which is sup- 

 posed to play so important a part in physiology and 

 pathology. By this process it is held that certain 

 substances existing in the blood are removed from that 

 fluid. The agents by which this removal is effected 

 are the gland cells, and it is supposed that these pos- 

 sess an attraction for the particular substances which 

 it is their duty to eliminate, by virtue of which they 

 are enabled to select and draw towards themselves 

 these special matters. It seems further to be generally 

 concluded that the gland cells, after having taken up 

 the particular substances in question, at least in some 

 instances, produce in them important alterations and 

 convert them into new compounds. When the change 

 is complete and the gland cells have attained their 

 mature state, it is supposed that they are cast off 

 from the surface loaded with the materials they have 



