STRUCTURE, OR -COMPOSITION. 247 



our disposal serve but to convince us that a minute 

 particle of the bioplasm of the most malignant 

 tumour, or the most rapidly growing pus corpuscle, 

 resembles in every particular that we can ascertain 

 by observation or experiment, a minute particle of 

 healthy living bioplasm, from the blood or from any 

 tissue, and it is proved beyond a doubt by the same 

 means of enquiry, that the living particles of bioplasm 

 in vaccine lymph cannot be distinguished from those 

 present in normal lymph or chyle. In short, that no 

 differences exist in colour, form, density, chemical 

 composition, or movements, between living particles 

 producing the most diverse results, and giving rise to 

 the production of the most different substances 

 (formed material). I think we shall find ourselves 

 compelled by the necessities of the case to refer the 

 properties of these different substances to what must 

 be termed a difference in vital power. To this we 

 may attribute the different relations of the elements, 

 which must be brought about immediately before they 

 combine to form the different chemical compounds 

 Any argument against my conclusions, based upon 

 the circumstance that no special germ can be detected 

 in any contagious diseases, can therefore have no force, 

 and will not be advanced by any one who has made 

 himself acquainted with the facts of the case. All the 

 contagious fevers have many points in common, and 

 for this reason we should naturally infer that the 

 poisons which give rise to them, although distinct 



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