68 BEALE'S PROTOPLASMIC THEORY. 



bolic action exerted by the germinal matter, without 

 coming into actual contact with, it or becoming a part 

 of it ; or that cell wall or intercellullar substance pos- 

 sesses the power of selecting certain substances from 

 the nutritive fluid and converting these into matter 

 like itself; nay, if it can grow in and form septa, as is 

 described by almost all observers to take place in 

 cartilage" ( Qu. Mic. J.," 1863, p. 97) 



Such is the basis of Beale's protoplasmic theory, 

 which now takes the place of the cell theory. It fol- 

 lows Fletcher and the non-animist school of vitalists, 

 and also the cell theory of Schleiden and Schwann, in 

 abandoning the idea of the dependence of life upon a 

 central overruling spirit or principle animating each 

 individual; and imputing it as a peculiar power or 

 property to quasi-independent vital units possessing 

 specific inherent differences in each organ and part. 



The speciality of Dr. Beale's theory may be summed 

 up in a new addition to those aphorisms which from 

 time to time have marked successive epochs in the 

 progress of biology. We have first the dictum of 

 Harvey, Omne vivum ex ovo. Then, when this was 

 found not to comprehend all the modes of origin of living 

 beings, it was changed by Milne-Edwards into Omne 

 vivum e vivo. Again, Virchow alters that into Omnis 

 cellula e celluld. Now, Beale adds the new and 

 startling aphorism, never before even hypothetically 

 imagined except by Fletcher, Nihil vivum nisi proto- 

 plasma ! 



