SECRETION A VITAL ACT. 73 



metabolic, or catalytic, or any action at a distance, can 

 account for the process." The proofs of this are con- 

 tained in general proofs of the protoplasmic theory at 

 p. 66. And besides these, Dr. Beale shows that fluids 

 will pass through a comparatively thick layer of 

 formed material, and reach the germinal matter in the 

 course of a few seconds ; so there is always the oppor- 

 tunity given for contact with the nutriment, and con- 

 version of some constituents of it into the living matter. 

 As an example of secretion by a cell, he gives the 

 liver cell, or elemental unit. " This consists of a 

 spherical mass of germinal matter, often containing 

 new centres of growth (nuclei), surrounded by a con- 

 siderable extent of formed material, giving to the 

 whole an irregularly oval or somewhat angular appear- 

 ance. This formed material is undergoing change 

 upon its outer surface, and, although resulting from 

 one kind of germinal matter, becomes gradually re- 

 solved into amyloid, fatty matter, the resinous salts of 

 the bile, and colouring matters" ("Oxford Lectures," 

 p. 639). "How is it possible that these various sub- 

 stances, not pre-existing in the blood, can be all formed 

 and separated from it at the same moment by the 

 agency of one and the same cell wall or nucleus acting 

 upon it at a distance ? It is surely more probable 

 that the constituents are absorbed from the blood, and 

 converted first into germinal matter, which then splits 

 up into these different classes of substances " (Todd 

 and Bowman, p. 109). 



" The formation of tLe fatty matter occurs in this way: In 

 the very substance of the bioplasm, hut always outside and 

 away from the new centre or nucleus, a little oil globule makes 



