TISSUE FORMATION. 55 



mechanical, chemical, and thermal influence, in addition 

 to its own special power, so as to be a very valuable 

 agent in scientific medicine ; yet the nature of its rela- 

 tion to the living organism is not yet understood. 



In every organized being there is an incessant play 

 of most varied actions. Buffon well said, " The animal 

 combines all the forces of nature ; his individuality 

 is a center to which every thing is referred, a point 

 reflecting the whole universe, a world in miniature." It 

 is a one-sided philosophy, however, which 

 sees in the living thing nothing more than 

 the forces which are outside of it and play 

 upon it, and are, to a great degree, subject 

 to it. 



4. Osmose, or osmotic action, is a property 

 of animal and vegetable membrane, and of 

 some other porous or soft materials, by which 

 liquid substances may be separated from 

 each other. If two liquids (or gases) capable 

 of mixing with each other are separated by 

 paper, caoutchouc, or a bladder, one liquid 

 being suspended in a bladder, or in a cylinder 



..i ., , . . , FIG. 6. Blad- 



with its lower end tied over with bladder, der containing 

 etc., and immersed in the other liquid, the ^ ru a p ' tu a ^ ac ^ 

 liquid within will pass through the bladder p^ged in a ves - 



. ^ sel of water. The 



into the other, (exosmose^) or the liquid with- inward motion of 



11 11111 / T \ l ^ e water (endos- 



out will pass into the bladder, (endosmose^ or mose) exceeds the 

 both endosmose and exosmose will take ^Tof the Tyr-" 

 place at the same time until there is an equal up ' ( exosmose ') 



and presses the 



proportion of liquids on either side. (Fig. 6.) fluid U P the tube - 

 These phenomena are owing to the physical attraction 



