58 THE PHASES OF 



amoeba. I have named this biological doctrine, which is based on Heitzmann's 

 discoveries, the "bioplasson doctrine," using the word "bioplasson " only as a 

 technical synonym for the two words " living matter" ; and I use the term 

 " plastid," proposed by Haeckel, or that of " bioplast," proposed by Beale, to 

 denote a so-called "protoplasmic body," or a form-element, a formerly so-called 

 11 cell." Perhaps it would be the best to restrict the word " bioplast " to a small 

 mass of living matter exhibiting no differentiation, and to distinguish from it 

 as * ' plastid " the larger mass showing an interior structure more or 1 ess like the 

 fully developed corpuscles. Thus, I would always use the term " plastid " in 

 the place of " cell." 



The word "protoplasma" is etymologically incorrect for designating living 

 and formative matter, as it has already been used by some authors with a 

 meaning other than the simple one here intended ; and as it has not yet be- 

 come so common that its retention or rejection is a matter of much conse- 

 quence, I propose the designation "bioplasson doctrine." 



The word plasma (TO irXda^a) really means the formed, that which is 

 formed, and plasson (TO TrXaooov) the forming, that which forms or does 

 the forming. The distinction is the one so justly insisted upon by Beale in 

 his discrimination between germinal or living matter and formed material. The 

 term plasm may, perhaps, be appropriately applied to the material formed 

 from the fluid of living matter, the intermediate or intercellular substance of 

 authors ; but the term plasson only can be applied to active, living, forming 

 matter. Proto (TipuiToc) is a prefix signifying first, primary, primordial; 

 and protoplasma has been used by some to denote the original or first-formed 

 organic matter. But the term we are in need of for our biological doctrine is 

 one that shall be an expression for living formative matter in its simple 

 elementary form ; and for this purpose, it seems to me, bioplasson may appro- 

 priately be chosen. 



The General Constitution of the Body, as Recognized ~by Single 

 Plastids. In 1879* I published facts which, perhaps, are of 

 some value to practical medicine, and certainly elucidate the prac- 

 tical value of the new discoveries. I reprint my assertions with 

 the only alteration that, in accordance with the new terminology, 

 as suggested in the foregoing article, instead of " protoplasm 7 ' 

 and " protoplasmic body," I use the terms " bioplasson" and 

 "plastid." 



The amount of living matter within a limited bulk of a plastid 

 varies greatly in diif erent individuals. It is obvious that what is 

 called a healthy or vigorous constitution is based upon a large 

 amount of living matter in the body, the new growth of which 

 in morbid processes is very lively ; while a strumous or scrofu- 

 lous or phthisical constitution must be caused by a relatively 

 small amount of living matter, the new growth of which is 



* " The Aid which Medical Diagnosis Receives from Recent Discoveries in 

 Microscopy." Archives of Medicine, February, 1879. 



