MICROSCOPIC CHAEACTEES OF BIOPLASM. 47 



patible with well-authenticated facts of nature, and 

 calculated only to mislead. 



10. Microscopic characters of Bioplasm. The 



characters of bioplasm may be studied in the lowest 

 organisms in existence and in plants, as well as in 

 man and the higher animals. Being so very trans- 

 parent and often embedded in dark and more or less 

 opaque tissue, bioplasm has often been overlooked 

 and has been mistaken for mere passive fluid occupy- 

 ing a space or vacuole in the tissue. We shall have 

 many opportunities of studying it, but it may be well 

 to repeat that bioplasm or living matter is, as far as 

 can be ascertained by examination with the highest 

 powers, perfectly structureless. It exhibits the same 

 characters at every period of existence, and in every 

 living organism. 



11. Bioplasm of sugar fungus. The bioplasm of 

 the thallus of the growing sugar fungus exists in 

 considerable quantity, and is well adapted for exami- 

 nation. It may be found in abundance in mouldy 

 jam, and it may be stained without much difficulty. 

 The growing extremity of the branch is rounded, and 

 here the process of growth is going on with great 

 activity ; new living pabulum is being converted into 

 living bioplasm with great rapidity. When the ope- 

 ration of staining has been conducted successfully, 

 these growing extremities will be found to be much 

 more deeply stained than the rest of the bioplasm. 



12. Bioplasm of tuft of placenta. A correspond- 

 ing fact may be demonstrated if one of the little tufts 

 of the placenta (a temporary organ of the embryo by 

 which the nutrient matter is separated from the 

 maternal blood, and which also effects the necessary 

 changes as regards oxygen and carbonic acid) is sub- 

 mitted to examination. At the extreme end of each 

 tuft is a collection of bioplasts which is intensely 

 stained by the carmine fluid. Behind this, and 

 growing towards it, is the vascular loop ; but as the 



