342 THE MICROSCOPIST. 



We have already considered Dr. Beale's views respect- 

 ing bioplasm page 118 as the forming material of the 

 tissues. At page 246 we have also referred to his doctrine 

 of inflammation, etc. These views will prepare us to 

 understand the theory of " disease-germs," considered as 

 degraded particles of bioplasm. " Degradation in power 

 is commonly associated with increased rate of growth, and 

 with remarkable vitality. The actively living degraded 

 bioplasm may retain its vitality although removed from 

 the living body, and it may grow and at length destroy 

 other living organisms to which it gains access." Animal 

 fluids and secretions, normal as well as those known to 

 have contagious properties, contain minute particles of 

 bioplasm, which are sometimes so small as to require the 

 highest microscopic powers to render 'them visible, yet 

 they are capable of growth and multiplication to a vast 

 extent, so that a minute particle of vaccine or other lymph 

 may originate important changes in a large number of 

 persons. 



The virulent poison of dissection-wounds cannot be as- 

 cribed to vegetable germs, since it is most virulent shortly 

 after death of the subject of dissection, and when putre- 

 factive decomposition has taken place, and bacteria swarm, 

 the real contagious virus is dead. Such is the vitality, 

 however, of some forms of degraded bioplasm, that they 

 will not only multiply on mucous surfaces, but live long 

 after their removal, as in purulent ophthalmia, gonor- 

 rhceal pus, etc., so that they may be transported in vari- 

 ous ways from one place to another and still retain their 

 multiplying power. A very small portion of blood, serum, 

 or of the tissues of an affected animal is sufficient to 

 propagate cattle-plague. Even the breath of the diseased 

 organism contains numerous virulent particles. There is 

 reason, also, for thinking that a single epithelial cell may 

 contain multitudes of active particles in the case of syphi- 

 litic poison which may remain dormant, perhaps for years, 



