94 BIOPLASTS OF THE CAPILLARIES 



powers of the capillaries in the portions of structure- 

 less, pulpy, living matter interwoven with them. The 

 number and size of these nuclei or bioplasts of the 

 capillaries, are shown to correspond with the important 

 functions assigned to them by Dr. Beale ("Biopl.," 

 287). In particular, the absorption and restoration to 

 the blood of the nutrient fluid, altered during nutrition 

 and the products of breaking up of the tissues, was 

 assigned by Fletcher to the capillary veins in virtue 

 of the living matter in their walls. This is almost 

 literally repeated by Dr. Beale, who describes and 

 figures these minute veins as destitute of muscular 

 fibres and studded with immense numbers of bioplasts, 

 whose appearance and functions are thus stated : 



" The observer will be astonished at the great number of 

 oval bioplasts in the walls of the small veins, as well as in the 

 capillaries near the veins. These bioplasts have not, I think, 

 been figured or accurately described, nor has attention been 

 drawn to the very important offices they probably fulfil in con- 

 nection with physiological changes that are constantly going 

 on as long as life lasts. It must be obvious that bioplasts dis- 

 tributed in such number as are those in the walls of the small 

 veins, perfown other functions besides taking part in the for- 

 mation of the tissue of the vein. As I have already endea- 

 voured to show, the activity of change in an organ or texture 

 may be judged of by the number of bioplasts present in it. In 

 veins the bioplasts are many times as numerous as would be 

 required to produce the very small amount of tissue entering 

 into the formation of their coats. The blood in these small 

 veins undergoes important changes, just as it does in the 

 capillaries, and the agents concerned are the bioplasts. In 

 short, physiologically, the small veins may be considered as 

 part of the capillary system, and concerned in nutrition arid in 

 the removal of products of disintegration resulting from changes 

 in the tissue." 



