58 CHANGE IN THE SPOEE. 



terial, the one situated externally, firm, glass like, 

 and arranged so as to form an investing membrane 

 closed at all points ; the other lying within, soft, and 

 exhibiting no form or structure whatever. 



91. Change in the spore. — If one of these spores 

 falls upon a moist surface where the conditions favour- 

 able for its development are present, it soon undergoes 

 remarkable changes, and abundant growth occurs, so 

 that by the germination of this one minute particle 

 many hundred times its weight of material may result 

 in a very short time, and every portion of the newly 

 formed bioplasm is itself capable of further growth. 

 The changes which occur are of exceeding interest 

 and worthy of the most attentive study. The facts 

 which we shall learn cannot fail to influence our 

 o"eneral conclusions concerning the natm^e of the 

 process of growth as it occurs in all livmg things 

 in health and disease, while at the same time they 

 serve to impress upon us forcibly the amazing dif- 

 ference between gro^rth, as it occurs even in this 

 simple organism, and the mere increase in size Avhich 

 the crystal undergoes, and which has been very 

 wrongly termed growth. 



92. Growth of the bioplasm. — ISText a new change 

 is observed at one point in the membrane. A small 

 orifice is seen, through wliich a little of the granular 

 contents of the capsule, covered by a thin layer of 

 the inner part of the membrane, makes its way, and 

 thus a small pear-shaped nodule is formed which 

 projects through the external membrane. This then 

 grows very quickly, and soon forms a sort of process 

 or outgrowth, still connected with the original mass 

 of bit)plasm by a very thin pedicle. Growth continues 

 with considerable rapidity, and soon a new oval spore 

 like the original one results. These facts maybe de- 

 monstrated in the rapid multiplication of the yeast- 

 cells in ordinary fermentation. The point of attach- 

 ment becomes less and less, until at last it is completely 



