THE BLOOD. 



157 



Fig. 94. 



containing albumen. Gluge's assertion, that "the organization of 

 fibrine into fibres and cells is a matter of direct observation," has 

 already been quoted (p. 119). We know that it is developed into 

 fibres by mere coagulation, but have shown that there is no proof 

 of cells being developed from fibrine. On the other hand, they are 

 probably never developed from fibrine, but from albumen rather; 

 fibrine never rising to a higher organization than mere simple fibre. 

 2. It is asserted that false membranes are at first formed from 

 organized fibrine alone, and that this is subsequently converted into 

 a higher tissue, usually some modification of the areolar. It is true 

 that the future new membrane is at first shadowed forth by the 

 fibrillated fibrine. The latter is, however, either ultimately reab- 

 sorbed and replaced by 

 other permanent tissues; 

 or the fibres themselves 

 remain, and present the 

 appearance represented 

 by Fig. 94. The fibril- 

 lated fibrine constitutes 

 the matrix or nidus in 

 which the cells and other 

 histological elements (if 

 any) are developed from 

 the albumen and other 

 immediate principles, as 

 there is every reason to 

 believe ; and, having per- A . Fibres in fibro-cystic tumor, 

 formed this temporary 



function, the fibrine usually disappears. If, however, no other his- 

 tological elements are formed in it, it sometimes remains. The fact 

 is undoubted that it is the fibrine which is organized into the fibres, 

 and this alone shows that it cannot be also organized into higher 

 elements and tissues; for every histological element has its own 

 identity and independent vitality. Hence fibres are never converted 

 into cells, nor any one tissue into another (p. 82). It must, there- 

 fore, be something else that is converted into cells and tissues, and 

 we can assign no other element than the albumen. In respect to 

 the tissues, therefore, albumen, and not fibrine, is the plastic element 

 of the blood-plasma. Ordinarily, however, the coagulated fibrine 



B. After addition of acetic acid. 



