256 



COLLOIDS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 



possible to imitate nucleus and cell division, growth and all sorts of 

 phenomena, and that even their internal structure is in many re- 

 spects suggestive of a cellular structure. Doubtless structures do 

 occur in nature which develop in the same way as these artificial 

 osmotic products. In fruit wines after fermentation, H. MILLER- 



FIG. 42. Microphotographs of osmotic structures, showing a cellular structure. 

 Magnified X 60. (From St. Leduc.) 



THURGAU* found vesicles which were filled with bacteria (Fig. 43) 

 on the yeast sediment. These " bacteria vesicles" were developed 

 because the colloid substances eliminated by the bacteria, in con- 

 junction with the fruit wine, which contains tannin, form a semi- 

 permeable membrane, a vesicle, that grows and sends out tubules. 



Is there really an analogy in the development of these structures to 

 the development of natural organisms? l The fact that there is not the 

 slightest chemical resemblance to organisms may be completely 

 disregarded since ST. LEDUC and all who share his views speak only 

 of the similarity of the physical force at work in both. 



1 W. Roux has treated the entire question in a very instructive essay on the 

 "Angebliche Kunstliche Erzeugung von Lebewesen" in the "Umschau" (Frank- 

 fort a. M.), 1906, Nr. 8. 



