BEALE'S MUSCLE THEORY. 133 



probably due to changes in non-living formed material only, 

 and is not in any way dependent for its manifestation upon 

 bioplasm" ("Biopl.," p. 227). 



With respect to protoplasm, or living matter belonging to the 

 muscular fibre proper, on the other hand, " the proportion of 

 bioplasm to the formed material in fully-formed muscular 

 tissue is considerably less than in many other textures." 

 "The position of the masses of bioplasm varies very much 

 in different kinds of striped muscle. In some forms we find a 

 row of nearly spherical bioplasts in the very centre of the ele- 

 mentary fasciculus of contractile tissues, in others an oval mass 

 is seen at the side of a very long, narrow fibre, consisting of 

 very few fibrillae ; and in many of the muscular fibres of 

 various classes of vertebrata, numerous oval masses are situated 

 at short distances, and alternating with one another throughout 

 the whole extent of the tissue within the sarcolemma. This 

 variation in position, and the difference observed in the relative 

 proportion of bioplasm and contractile tissue in muscles which 

 act in the same manner, lead me to infer that the bioplasm is 

 not immediately concerned in muscular contraction" (" Biopl.," 

 p. 225). 



In the muscular fibre of the dytiscus marginalia a small mass 

 of bioplasm is seen in the centre of each Bowman's disc. The 

 function of these protoplasm masses Dr. Beale holds to be 

 restricted to the formation and repair of the contractile tissue. 

 Besides these masses of living matter belonging to the fibre 

 proper, the sarcolemma upon its outer surface is connected with 

 the delicate intermuscular connective tissue, with capillary 

 vessels, and with nerve fibres. The greater number of the 

 masses of bioplasm on the surface of the sarcolemma of the 

 muscles of vertebrata are those of the numerous nerves and 

 capillary vessels distributed to the elementary fibre ; but they 

 have generally been mistaken for "connective-tissue cor- 

 puscles." 



So far, then, according to Beale, we have a division into 

 passive or dead fibre apparatus fitted for mechanical work, and 

 living matter solely destined for the formation and repair of 

 that apparatus, but no provision as yet for extrication of force 



