GERMS. 15 



Cells may be called germs because they have the power 

 to germinate, grow, and develop new life. The term 

 cell and germ may be used interchangeably. 



It is understood, of course, that an animal or vege- 

 table cell and those cells floating in air and water are 

 not alike, yet each answers to the same definition, and 

 each may be called a germ. They differ because the 

 Divine architect has assigned to each a different power 

 or part in the world's economy. 



All living matter, animal or vegetable, originates in 

 a single cell or germ, while vast numbers constitute the 

 more developed structure, so arranged as to form the 

 different organs or parts. The cells constituting the 

 human body vary from one one-hundred-and-twenty- 

 fif th to one five-thousandth of an inch in diameter. As 

 just explained, cells or germs are concerned in all the 

 processes of life. They influence the necessary change 

 in matter before its absorption into living organisms, 

 and they constitute the organism after it is formed. 

 To-day a cell, any cell or germ, may aid in the forma- 

 tion of organic life, to-morrow it may be destroyed and 

 its elements aid in the formation of a cell or germ 

 which later may be found in disease. 



There are all grades and conditions of these cells or 

 germs, old and young, large and small, healthy and 

 unhealthy. They are continually being born and con- 

 tinually dying. There is no dividing line between 

 them. 



All the varied scenes in nature are caused by these 

 germ cells, which are constantly changing, constantly 



