16 CELLS AND EPITHELIAL MEMBKANES. 



ance from whatever point of view they may be 

 regarded. For is not the simple cell the constituent 

 or formative element of all the normal tissues, as well 

 as of those which result from diseased action ? And 

 of the latter, those over which our remedies exert the 

 least power are composed almost exclusively of cells. 

 Still farther : those organs of the body which hold 

 the highest rank in view of the importance of their 

 functions, which, in other words, possess the greatest 

 amount of vital force, consist in the greatest propor- 

 tion of cells; whilst the elementary fibre, and the 

 organs mainly formed by it, perform functions which 

 are simply mechanical. 



