98 REPORT — 1867. 



formation of a sulastance, named protagon, from the oleo-albuminous matter of the 

 egg, hy the action of alcohol, had recently heen shown hy Dr. Montgomery to_ he 

 capable of enabling us to make out of its substance, ai'tificially, on a glass slide, 

 most of the elementary textures of auimal bodies. The author had repeated Dr. 

 Montgomery's experiments with protagon, and placed upon the table a large num- 

 ber of preparations, exhibiting organic forms and textiu'es thus consh'ucted. lie 

 regi-etted that neither the time nor the aiTangements of the Section were of a kind 

 which woidd enable the histologists present to examine them. He had displayed 

 one preparation under the microscope, however, which he believed to be unique, 

 as it demonstrated that molecules possessed in themselves the power of arranging 

 themselves into nucleated cell-forms, without any previous ceU-formations. 



The first step in the line of discovery which indicated the physical conditions 

 necessary for the formation of animal and vital textures was, in his opinion, made 

 by Ascherson in 1840, who showed how the mere contact of oil and albmnen 

 produced a molecular membrane called haptogen meiubrane. The second step was 

 the determination by Rainej' of the influence of viscidity and limpidity in liquids, 

 causing in them the precipitation of globidar and crystalline forms. A third 

 step consisted in demonstrating the difficulty with which these viscous or colloid 

 substances pass through membranes, as compared with liquids, for which Ave are 

 indebted to the researches of Graham. A fovu-th step he considered was the de- 

 monstration that the diaphanous or hyaline bodies, so long known to histologists, 

 consisted of a glutinous substance formed in cells, which coidd be squeezed out of 

 them by pressure, as lately shown by the author *. Lastly, the experiments with 

 protagon by Montgomery "t liad shown that this peculiar viscous material, when 

 mingled A\'ith water, albumen, glycerine, serum, or other substances, and acted 

 itpon by acetic or nitric acids, could be made to assume the form of fibres, vari- 

 cose tubes, nucleated cells (simple and compound), pus-corpuscles, and bodies 

 which, like salivary cells, exhibited numerous granules in their interior, possessing 

 active molecular movements. All these researches tended to clear up the nature 

 of a midtitude of facts, long known to histologists, to several of which Dr. Bennett 

 refen'ed, and which had led him to the folloMang conclusions : — 



1. That our present knowledge of the physical conditions necessary for the for-i 

 mation of elementary structures indicates the vast importance of studjaug the 

 relations, chemical, mechanical, and structural, of the fatty, albuminous, and 

 mineral constituents of the animal frame. 



2. That the constant formative and disintegrative processes occurring among 

 these constituents is largely due to chemical and mechanical action, especially 

 pressm-e and friction. 



3. That the differentiation between these elements is also attributable to the 

 physical properties of viscidity' and limpidity, the fonuer tending to produce glo- 

 bular, and the latter linear or crystalline forms. 



4. That these viscous and limpid fluids exist in the living body, are constantly 

 influenced by mixture, pressure, and endosmose, and may frequently be seen, espe- 

 cially in morbid products, to originate formation by molecular deposition, and so- 

 called nuclei, cells, and fibres by molecular aggregation. 



.5. That these facts throw great light upon the circumstances necessary for the 

 production of elementary structures, but leave our conception of vital properties 

 and of vital tendencies pretty much as it was, viz. rmlvnown powers inherent in 

 the tissues generally, determining their- development and regulating their action. 



New Invesfif/ations to determine the Amount of Bile secreted h>/ the Liver, and 

 how far this is injluenced hy Mercurials. By Prof. Htigiies Bennett, M.D., 

 F.E.S.E. 4-c. 



The author stated that, although much had been written regarding the func- 

 tions of the liver, and the action upon it of mercurials, very little exact informa- 

 tion existed on the subject. Last winter a Committee had "been formed in Edin- 

 burgh to reinvestigate the amoimt of liile secreted in health, and how far such 

 * Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, 1867, p. 322. 

 t On the Formation of so-called Cells &c. London, Churchill, 18G7. 



