54 GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY 



indebted to researches upon such 'objects as these for the most 

 important portion of our knowledge of the chemical composition 

 and metabolism of the cell. A great variety of favourable research- 

 objects are also found for microchemical investigation, although 

 thus far, since the methods are still little developed, only the very 

 first beginning in this direction has been made. The labours of 

 Miescher, Kossel, Lilienfeld, Loew and Bokorny, Zacharias, Schwarz, 

 Lowitt, and others, have already proved that the microchemical 

 investigation of the cell has before it a rich future. 



It is, however, superfluous to enumerate single methods which 

 can be employed in cell-physiology. All methods that the special 

 research at the moment demands are useful. Physiology must 

 return constantly to the standpoint that made so fruitful the 

 labours of Johannes Miiller. Throughout his whole life, Muller 

 defended practically and theoretically the view that there is not 

 a single physiological method, but that every method is right that 

 leads to the goal. He always selected the method in accordance 

 with the problem of the moment, never, as often happens to-day, 

 the problem in accordance with the method. The problem, not 

 the method, is indivisible ; for the solution of the problem the 

 physiologist must employ, as the special purpose demands, alike 

 chemical, physical, anatomical, embryological, zoological, botanical, 

 mathematical, and philosophical methods ; but all should lead to one 

 goal, the investigation of life. 



