66 BEALE'S PROTOPLASMIC THEORY. 



from decomposition took the dye freely." This is quite con- 

 trary to Beale's directions, and the said dyeing must have been 

 mere tinting, or else was the proper staining of a layer of 

 bacteria. 



Although the carmine test plays such an important 

 part, yet it must not be imagined that the protoplasmic 

 theory rests upon it entirely, any more than the New- 

 tonian theory rests upon the falling of the mythical 

 apple. Among the other arguments in support of it 

 may be enumerated the following : 



The constant presence of bioplasm in all living parts 

 of the same animal, and its absence in the dead, such 

 as cuticle, hair, horn, &c. 



The same externally-similar, structureless proto- 

 plasm occurs in all living things, plant, animal, or 

 protist. 



Coloured secretions, and particles of starch and 

 other products, are seen to be formed in protoplasm. 



" Bioplasm always exists before the formed material 

 is produced, and the latter is never found without the 

 former having been present " (" Biopl.," 123). 



Even in the vitreous humor, apparently a completely 

 non-living part, numerous bioplasts exist in embryonic 

 life, and a few are found in the adult. 



The proportion of bioplasm in any tissue decreases 

 with age. In the young, growing parts it greatly pre- 

 dominates ; then the proportion is gradually reversed 

 as growth ceases and age advances. 



The continuity of the bioplasm with the formed 

 material in process of development. 



In the formation of cartilage each bioplast divides 

 so as to produce clusters of four or more, and these 



