130 VEGETABLE CELLS. 



place, while a larger or smaller portion of the contents 

 are lost and become dissolved, through the separation, we 

 shall always regard a cell altered in this manner as the 

 same. It has indeed lost a part of its contents, and 

 acquired a partially different membrane ; but the greater 

 portion of its contents and membrane remain unaltered. 

 On the other hand, if a very large quantity of the contents 

 separate and disappear by solution, we may regard the 

 remaining portion, which becomes inclosed by a mem- 

 brane, as we please, either as the altered original cell, or 

 as a new one. If the detached portion of contents, instead 

 of undergoing solution, remain living and acquire a mem- 

 branous coat, two new separate cells will have replaced 

 the original cell. We must, therefore, assume that cell- 

 formation takes place here. Of the three cases mentioned, 

 the first is undoubtedly a reorganization of the individual 

 cell ; the third, undoubtedly a production of new cells ; 

 the second is either one or the other, according as it is 

 compared with the one or other process. 



The result of these considerations is : that abnormal 

 cell-formation cannot establish any firm and absolute defi- 

 nition for the process of individualization of the portions 

 of contents for the purpose of cell-formation ; because 

 this process is essentially uncertain, and merely different 

 in degree from that which stands in opposition to it.* 



Passing now to normal cell-formation, we find the pro- 

 cess of individualization of the portions of contents con- 

 nected with determinate laws. We find no phenomena 

 here, forming transitional stages towards a different pro- 

 cess, in any way, towards that of mere reorganization of 

 the cell. The individualization of the contents for the 

 purpose of cell-formation appears, in general, under four 

 different forms : 



1. Solitary ', minute portions of the contents become iso- 



* I was compelled to establish this fact somewhat at length, because 

 many abnormal phenomena of cell-life have already been taken as evidence in 

 discussions on cell-formation. They are testimony for the formation of mem- 

 brane, but not for that of the cell generally. 



