260 Notice of the late Dr. Waldo Irving Burnett. 
structures with which it is associated. In entering upon so difii- 
cult a subject as this, it was not expected, nor is there any reason 
to suppose that he himself expected, that he should not lay him- 
self open to criticism. The ablest living histologist, Kolliker, in 
speaking of the subject of the development of tissue, uses the 
following language: ‘“ Not only does histology not possess a sili- 
gle law, but the materials at hand from which such could be de- 
duced are as yet relatively so scanty, that not even any consider- 
able number of general propositions appear well founded.” As 
laws and general propositions were among the especial objects of 
Dr. Burnett’s researches, it will be seen at once that he has en- 
tered boldly into a contested field. But it is to follow him in his 
labors, and not to hold up to criticism his results, that we have at 
present to do. 
His subject is discussed under the following heads: 
Ist. Cell-genesis, under which he treats of the origin of cells, 
and advocates a peculiar mode of development, which he claims 
as original with himself, and the result of his own observations. 
2d. Cell physiology, or healthy function. 
3d. Cell pathology, or diseased function. 
4th. Cell philosophy, or Ist, the relations of cells to the teleo- 
logical view of organization; 2d, the direct agency of cells 1m 
the production and manifestation of nervous power, the intellec- 
tual processes, &c. : 
The general results of his studies of cell life and cell genesis 
are in his own words as follows: “The great outstanding fact 
which appears before us as the result of these studies is, that 
there is fundamental unity of organization. This we have seet 
to consist in elementary particles, which in both animals and 
plants are formed upon a common plan. It was the opinion of 
Schwann and Schleiden, who truly originated this view, that this 
plan consisted in the preéxistence of a solid fundamental body, 
(the nucleus) around which is formed a membrane ultimately &* 
panding and constituting the cell. It has been one of my objects 
to show, that this is not of universal application, by an attempt 
to demonstrate another mode of cell formation, which is that the 
fundamental idea of a cell isa simple vesicle, and that the nucle- 
cell is simply one cell containing another within its walls. 
With Schwann the nucleus is erogenous and germinative—Wit 
me the nucleus is endogenous and reproductive 
“The two conclusions of the studies of cell life are thet 6 
The existence of an elementary particle, having an invariabl 
unity of expression, the cell. 2d. The universality of the 4 
cation of this particle for the formation of organized parls, 
tissues.” ‘« ast 
In studying cells in relation to pathology, he regards this 
as an erring physiology, and concludes, that, both as to their g¢° 
