124 CELL THEORIES. 



observations on the differences in both salivary and 

 gastric secreting corpuscles in states of activity and 

 rest. How, then, shall we say that in its different 

 conditions the material which constitutes the mass 

 of such corpuscles is one and the same chemical 

 substance ? We shall, indeed, take a very imperfect 

 view of the living units to which an unhappy 

 chance has given the unfortunate name of cells, 

 if we say that because neither cell-wall nor 

 nucleus is an essential element, therefore life is a 

 property of protoplasm. It was recognized by 

 observers long ago that the bond of connection 

 between the bodies which they described lay not 

 in a detail of structure, but in the possession 

 of one or more of the vital properties, irritability, 

 growth, or reproduction; and the observations of 

 later years do not overthrow that conception, but 

 afford it additional support. Indeed, there are 

 passages in Professor Strieker's article which show 

 an appreciation of this. 



That article is one which affords much food for 

 reflection, and is a repertory of important infor- 

 mation. But as a history it is defective, even 

 greatly so. The author neither does justice to the 

 work of Virchow nor of Beale ; and Goodsir is a 

 name of which he makes no mention. Yet Vir- 

 chow inaugurated an era in the history of cell- 



