130 THE BIOCOSMOS CELLULAR. 



mutual onslaughts. Still we hope to run a 

 slender line of order through this seething 

 mass which seems on the outside so chaotic. 



I. CYTOLOGY. 



The first portion of the Cellular Biocos- 

 mos deals with the cell proper, its origin, 

 structure and functions apart from its dis- 

 eases its positive side we may call this, as 

 distinct from its negative side. This direct 

 positive field of cell-science is very generally 

 known as Biology in the narrow sense, though 

 the special term for it, Cytology, seems to be 

 creeping into use. At any rate the word is 

 needed, though it unfortunately has the 

 wrong implication of a cell being always a 

 hollow thing against which conception the 

 biologist of the present day seldom fails to 

 speak his protest. But the Greek word 

 kutos is a literal translation of the Latin 

 cella, and perpetuates the old mistake. Cytol- 

 ogy is, then, the science of the cell taken in 

 itself or as immediate, and hence it comes 

 first in the Biocosmos as the basic principle 

 of all Life, as the very beginning thereof. 



It is true that this beginning of Life has 

 not yet been found as a sensuous object, and 

 so is vigorously pursued by science which 

 pursuit will probably last for a long time yet. 

 Here is a term of mind, a category of thought 



