ITS CHEMICO-PHYSICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES 25 



in which, according to Altmann, it multiplies by fission (omne 

 granulum e granulo). 



Many objections may be raised to this hypothesis of Altmann's, 

 in so far as it refers to the interpretation of recorded observations. 

 Firstly, the most minute micro-organisms of a zooglea are connected 

 by means of a great number of forms, which are intermediate as to 

 size, with the larger fission and yeast fungi ; and since these are 

 not to be distinguished from cells in their construction, they also 

 must, according to Altmann, be colonies of bioblasts. Further, 

 Biitschli has shown that the larger micro-organisms are most 

 probably divided into nucleus and protoplasm, and hence are 

 similar in structure to other cells. The flagella, also, which have 

 been demonstrated in many micro-organisms, must be considered to 

 be cell organs. Secondly, we have not been sufficiently enlightened 

 upon the nature and function of the granula in the cell, excepting 

 that for some reason or other we are to conclude that they are 

 its true vital elements. According to Altmann's hypothesis, the 

 relative importance which has been attached to cell-substances is 

 completely reversed. The substance which he calls intergranula 

 substance, and which in its physiological importance he considers 

 to correspond to the gelatinous substance of the zooglea, is to all 

 intents and purposes the protoplasm of the generally accepted 

 cell theory, that is to say, the substance which is considered to form 

 the most important generator of the vital processes ; on the other 

 hand, the granula belong to the category of protoplasmic contents, 

 and as such have had a much less important role ascribed to them. 

 Thus Altmann designates the melanin granules of a pigment cell 

 as the bioblasts, and the connecting protoplasm as the inter- 

 granula substance. Similarly he completely reverses the physio- 

 logical importance of the substances in the nucleus, as will be 

 shown later on, in that he considers that his granula are con- 

 tained in the nuclear sap, whilst his intergranula substance corre- 

 sponds to the nuclear network, containing the chromatin. 



Under the term granula, Altmann has, according to our opinion, 

 classed together substances of very different morphological im- 

 portance, some of which should be considered as products of the 

 protoplasm* However, he has rendered important service by faci- 

 litating the investigation of protoplasm by means of new methods, 

 although his bioblastic theory, which is based upon these experi- 

 ments, is not likely to attract many supporters. (See the conclu- 

 sion of the ninth chapter.) 



