64 BEALE'S PROTOPLASMIC THEORY. 



see the neutral or slightly alkaline reaction of the muscular or 

 nerve tissues give place, under strongly exerted activity, to an 

 acid one. These chemical transformations of the cell contents 

 originate, as it appears, for the most part, in the nuclei, which, 

 in the living cell, exhibit constantly an acid reaction " (Beale, 

 Kolliker, J. Eanke), " in contradistinction to their alkaline en- 

 vironment. This acid reaction is made known by the property 

 of the nucleus to colour itself red quickly and permanently in 

 neutral carminate of ammonia solution by fixation of the car- 

 minic acid."* 



If, therefore, the operation of staining is performed 

 sufficiently soon after death, we have a most valuable 

 test of the parts of the organism that were living at 

 the moment of somatic death. If, however, a certain 

 time is allowed to elapse, decomposition sets in, and 

 this distinction is lost. " Certain other precautions in 

 practice are necessary, and the density and composition 

 of the colouring fluid must be slightly varied in special 

 cases. But it is necessary that I should state distinctly 

 that if the process be properly conducted, every kind 

 of living or germinal matter, or bioplasm, receives 

 and fixes the colour, while no kind of formed material 

 known is stained under the same circumstances" 

 (" Bioplasm," p. 44?). The importance of such a method 

 in proof of the protoplasmic theory is so obvious that 

 opponents have not failed to question these statements, 

 and the possibility of tinting all sorts of substances 



* Dr. Beale also says : " The carmine does not actually stain living 

 matter ; and the acid, I conclude, is set free at the moment of death. 

 Soon after death, when decomposition begins, ammonia is formed, and 

 the acid neutralized, and then my staining will not occur ; but any- 

 thing may be stained, in another sense, by proper soaking. If bio- 

 plasm be carefully preserved soon after death, it may be stained, though 

 not so nicely, at any distant period if kept in a medium which will not 

 neutralize or quickly dissolve out the acid of the bioplasm " (MS. 

 letter). 



