The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 31, 1896, Page 17

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1896. b4 THE CENTROSOMES OF ANIMAL CELLS SHOWN TO BE LIVING ORGANISMS. Remarkable Discovery of Dr. Gustav Eisen. SAN FRANCISC SCIENTIST. It Will Revolutionize All Modern Thought and Study. Greatest Advance in the Field of Physiology for the Last Fifteen Years. On this page, in the following col- umus, THE CALL presents to the world its first inkling of a scientific discovery which will undoubtedly revolutionize all scientific thought and methods of research. Dr. Gustav Eisen, an eminent mem- ber of the California Academy of Sc ences and one of the best-known micro- scopists in the world, has discovered, after many months of patient toil, that the centrosome of animal cells is a living organism. Slow !y but surely the secrets of nature are being revealed by science. Men are at work in all parts of the world searching with the microscope for the least bit of fact that will guide the way to something else. Most of the great discoveries in bi- ology have been made in Germany and France, but the last, and possibly the most important, has j been made here in San Francisco by Dr. Gustav Eisen of the Cali- fornia Academy of Sciences. The import- ance of the discovery will not be apparent to the average person without an expiana- | tion, but before proceeding it might be as well to state that it is the most important fact the microscope has revealed for the last fifteen years. 1t has a direct bearing on the cell theory of biology, although the experiments have been made with blood corpuscles. There was a time when our ancestors looked upon blood as a fluid akin to red ink. They knew of course that it was im portant to life, but had no 1dea of what i was composed. About the year 1660 the red blood corpuscles were discovered by Swannerdam, and for more than a hun dred years the idea prevailed that they were solid particles like aniline dye ina ary state. The discovery of the white corpuscles in 1770 somewhat upset this idea, but it was not until about fifty years 2go that the real nature of the blood began to be understood. Improved microscopes and methods of staining revealed the fact tiat each corpuscle was a perfect cell, with its different parts as cleanly divided as the shell, white and yelk of an ordinary bird’s egg. As the years went by the discovery of the cell grew in importance, and it soon became known that all animal substance was a composition of myriads of cells. It was found that all cells, whether of nerve, brain or blood, were substantially the same. All had the outer covering corre- sponding to the eggshell, and within this a substance that was named the cyto- plasm. Within the cytoplasm, like the velk of an egg, was found a small sub- stance called the nucleus. After this was found nothing new turned up until about fifteen years ago, when the centrosome was discovered. This was a small speck of matter that adhered to the nucleus. Later investigation showed it to be sur- rounded by a substance that was called the archoplasm. From this a series of rays were found that ran off in all directions through the eytoplasm. Since the discovery of the centrosome a great deal has been found out about its ac- tion. It was found that in some unknown way the centrosome divided itself and be- came two. One remained in its original place and the other passed around to the opposite side of the nucleus. In time the centrosomes, by the aid of the rays, ac- complished the division of the nucleus, aiter which the balance of the ceil also di- vided and eventualiy formed two distinct cells, ready to repeat the process ad infini- tum. All the diagrams of cells that have here- tofore been made have been some from figure 1 in the accompanying group of cuts. The centrosome was thought to be an organ of each cell, but Dr. Eisen has shown it to be a distinct organism, capable of individual action and sur- viving in the blood serum long after the rest of the cell has perishea. In making his experiments Dr. Eisen used the blood of the Batrachiseps attenu- atus, or water dog, as that reptile’s red corpuscles are about 500 times the bulk of those of a human being. He made a number of slides and at first thought the blood must have been filled with parasites. Gradaally the facts dawned on him and after séveral months’ work he isat last able to say that he has found something new. The set of microscopic slides tnat he has show numerous phases of the trans- formation of the centrosome from a con- stituent of the cell to an independent organism, but four of the accompanying group will give an idea of the principal changes. No. 2 shows the centrosomes preparing to leave the cell. In No. 3 they have stretched to a considerable distance from the nucleusand the cytoplasm has disappeared. In No.4 one of them has already freed itself and the other is seen nanging by a protoplasmic shaft. No.5 shows the centrosome as a complete indi- yidual, possessing nearly all the properties of a cell. That the liberated centrosome is capable of independent action Dr. Eisen has also ascertained. He has discovered them in the blood sernm by the hundreds, and sev- eral of them are in the act of devouring foreign matter. There are several slides showing the new element wrapped around the fragments of disintegrating cells like the tentacles of a devil-fish. These slides are dependent on color for their effect and cannot be rppraduced in black and white. ‘What does. all this prove? some might ask. in the first place, it proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that the centrosome is the center of life of all animal cells. It is proved to be a distinct entity with a vital center that may besimilar to a brain This explains how the centrosome is able | to pass from one side of the nucleus to the other. As an independent organism it may be as well able to direct its move- ments as an 1nsect crawling on the outside of an apple. The importance of the discovery may be realized from the tact that it will change the whole course of work of every micro- scopist in the world. Many theories of a | week ago have been made facts, or have been proved to be untenable. Dr. Eisen’s investigations have been so successful apd his slides have turned out so perfectly that there is no room for thinking that phenomenon he has observed might mean anything else. The reason the investiga- tions have turned out as they have is due | to the state.of the blood of the animal from which 1t was taken and also to the methods of staining. Dr. Eisen has given THE CALL a few ex- tracts from the work he is preparing on the subject. The following selections re- fer only to the principal phases of the ais- covery; the details will make a book of hundreds of pages: The elements of the blood of Batrachiseps attenuatus are in several respects most inter- esting, differing in some points as do the cor- responding elements of any other species of batrachian which has come under my observa- | tion, directly or indirectly. Batrachiseps at- | tenuatus is”one of the most common batra- | chians in this part of California and material | for study may be had anywhere almost and at any time except during the dryest part of the summer when specimens are scarce. The ele- { ments in the blood of this interesting animal | are in short as follows: Erythocites or red | blood corpuscles. They differ in three points | | irom the red corpuscles in any other batrach- ian. First the vast majority, less than one per cent at any time, do not possess any nucleus. The percentage which is nucleated is some- | what uncertain as I have not made a sufficient { number of counting to ascertain the average, | but I believe that one per cent is not much out | of the way. In some animals, especially in | early spring, the nucleated red celis are so | scarce that on a well spread coverglass I have |on und one single red corpuscle with a | nuclens. At other times they are more umerous, so that in a field viewed under less I say Zeiss A, we may count 100 to 200 | nucleated cells, all the others having no nucleus. Second—The red bloodcells are of greatly varying size, not in different animals, but in | the same blood. Thus while many corpuscles are very large others are very small. We fre- | quently meet with red bloodcells as small | as those of the human blood, while the | largest may have five times this diameter. And this variation in size is apparently not de- pendent on the size of the animal, but appears { uniform in the respective individuals inves- | tigated. | Third—The red blood corpuscles vary very materially as regards their shape. The major- ity of corpuscles are ovoid, as batrachian blood in general, but many are almost round or pear shaped, and between these and the ovoid ones there are all possible gradations and varia- | tions. | As regards the nucleated red cells again, it is not by any means the largest ones that are fur- nished with nucleus, byt the smeallest as well. Polymorphic leucocytes, similar to those generally seen in batrachian blood. Noronuclear leucocytes, smalier than the tormer, or lymphocytes. Easynophile leucocytes, of the same size as the polynuclear ones, smaller in most ba- trachian blood, but varying in size. Fusiform elements, or degenerating nucle- ated red corpuscles. Degenerating leucocytes, of various forms and sizes, generally larger than the regular leucocytes. They occur in allstages of decom- position. Plasmocytes. Iapply this name to & hith- erto undescribed element in the blood, so far only as observed by me in the blood of batra- chiseps. These new elements are much smaller than the average erytheocytes, and only slightly larger than the smallest erytheocytes. They are somewhat larger than theerytheocytes of the human blood. They are characterized by the absence of cell membrane. They occur in considerable numbers and are more numer- ous than the nucleated red bloodcells. Tie object is to establish the identity of these plasmocytes, to trace their origin, to follow their development, and to demonstrate and prove that they constitute the centrosomes and sphere of the nucleated red cells, which have disengaged themselves from the degen- erating and dissolving cells, surviving in the blood serum as free and independent ele- ;ncnls‘ capable of growth and assimilation of food. & A. B. Macallum was _he first one to deter- mine satisfactorily that the fusiform elements les in the blood of Necturus derive n directly from the red blood cor- puscles, that they constitute in fact disintegrat- ing red nucleated corpuscles, the cell wall of which have been destroyed ana the hzmoglo- bin of which has been liberated. As regards the blood of batrachiseps this origin of the fusiform corpuscles is so apparent that few, if any, comments are necessary. Onmy shdes I have frequently found nucleated cells that had been injured or in which from some other cause the nucleated cell membrane had been rup- tured or in which the h@moglobin had escaped, leayjing only the cell membrane as & ring around the nucleus, but at the proper distance away. Such nuclei were surrounded by exactly the same cytoplasm and stained in exactly the same way as thatof the fusiform corpuscles, and I could in them discern all the different spheres that I have found in the fusi- form corpuscles. In other words the proto- plasmic projections at the anchor poles re- sembled exactly the plasmocytoblasts of the fusiform corpuscles. On this account alone I am satisfied of the correctness of Macallum’s demonstration as regards the origin of the fusiform corpuscles, But, furthermore, if a drop of batrachiseps blood be mixed with a drop of saltsolution, 0.6, and observed, we soon see how the red cells lose their h@moglobin, the cell membranes col- lapse, and the nuclei with adhering cytoplasm are set free. These remains of the red blood corpuscles resemble exactly the fusiform ele- ments, or at least some of them, as itis evi- dent that the Tusiform corpuscles are present in all stages of aisintegration, * A fusiform corpuscie stained with tuloidin blue mounted in thus-xylol and viewed under a high-power oil immersion presents the fol- lowing structure: A large, central nucleus of rather irregular, oblong form. The two long sides are always convex, while the two oppo- site short sides are generaily flat or even con- cave. The nucleus -tself requires little de. scription. It is & nucleus in degeneration, and we find all the various stages between & dis- tinct network with well-defined chromosomes to an irregular mass of dark, staining globules, more or less concentrated or diffuse. What at- tracts us most is the cytoplasmic elements which adhere to the nucleus as a thin coating, which is thicker at the short nuclear sides. This cytoplasmic coat 1s different at the poles of the nucieus from what it is at the long sides, Thus the long sides are covered by & very thin Jayer of faintly staining cyto- plasm, s0 thin in places that Iam not certain if it is always present. This is the rule, though occasionally the cytoplasm on the sides is found much broader. showing two dis. tinct layers. But at the poles, or at least at one of the poles, though generally at both poles, the cytoplasm is greatly accumulated, showing a number of distinctl; ining zones or spheres. The tuluidin has & marked and distinct affinity for this part of the cell, and without this stain I could not possibly have attained any result in the study of these ele- ments. The tuloidin differentiates in & way that no other stain does the respective zones For the scientific students of the world | Gustav Eisen, Ph.D., the Eminent San Francisco Biologist and Microscopist, Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Whose Remarkable Discovery of Life in the Centrosome of the Blood Is Now Presented to the World by *The Call.” of the cytoplasm, and nearly always in the same manner, thaugh always distinctly. In a general way it will be seen that the cytoplasmiec projection, or plasmocytoblast, at one or both poles is much darker in the center or at the base, while at the apex | or along the outside margin itislighter. The outside also is always pale blue, while the cen- tral or basal part is violet. At the very baseor at the very center are seen one or more dark dots, which even & cursory study satisfied me constituted the centrosomes of the cell. They are nearly always present. As might be naturally expected we meet with some varia- tion in the form aud size of these cytoplasmic zones, but as a rule they are quite or even very constant. At the outset I find that the cyto- plasmic projections or plasmocytoblasts are of twokinds, between which there are gradations. In one kind, the dark staining part, with the centrosomes, is situated at the base close to the nucleus. In this form the layers or zones superpose each other as a series of hollow cones placed one over the other on a plane, the centrosomes resting on this plane. In the other form the zones surround each other as the various layers in a seed. I can nearly always distineuish six distinct zones, and in order to treat of them intelligently I have named them as follows, counting from the ex- terior to the interior or to the base. Ecto- plasm—(1) Plasmosphere; (2) Annulus or hyal- osphere; (3) Granosphere; Microcentrum—(4) Centrosphere (or archoplasm); (5) Somosphere with (6) Centrosomes. The following diagram of the cone-shaped polar projection of the cytoplasm will more clearly illustrate this, and requires but little additional explanation: foilows: margin. The hyalosphere or annulus almost pure white. The centrosphere more or less deep violet. The microsphere either paie whitish or deeper violet or blue than the cen- trosphere. The somosphere dark with the centrosomes darkest. From this general rule there are, however, a few exceptions. cytoplasmic projection is especially prominent at the upper pole, while at the lower pole it is quite small. We have no difficulty in recog- nizing the outer plasmosphere, with its fringe- unstained, and the granosphere, which is very large at the upper pole, while at the lower pole itis very narrow. The microsphere again is in this corpusole stained dark, while the somosphere and centrosomes are stained the darkest of the spheres. In the other class of fusiform corpuscles again we find that the microsphere, at either | end, has traveled away from the base of the cone, toward the apex, much more S0 at.the pole. We find that &t the pole b the spheres are arranged in the cone-like type, while at pole a the spheres have assumed the star type, that 18, they have traveled away from the base, there being about as much centrosphere on | each side surrounding the micfosphere. AsI have stated, we find fusiform corpuscles in all stages between the two extremes, and the in- dividuality of each is such that two corpus- cles are never found exactly alike, Still there issuch a great general similarity that we are rarely in doubt as regards the identity of the respective zones or spheres. Iwill now refer toeach of tne three spheres in detail, begin- ning with the outer one on the plasmosphere. PLASMOSPHERE.—The plasmosphere is espe- cially developed at the poles. It may be much larger at one pole than at the other. and this inequality in size corresponds also with the inequality in size of the other spheres. In other words, the spheres increase in size to- gether, ana in such & way that the largest spheres are alweys those which surround the centromes ‘and centrosphere, The plasmo- sphere appears always fringed, partly from actually being so, partly from dark staining cytoplasm arranged as a dotted boraer. This fringed appearance resembles greatly the plasma projections of an amcba, and in a general way the direction of the rays are from the center outward, like the rays of a star. The plasmosphere gives the impression as if it sometimes were in rest, while at other times it appears as if it had been fixed while in amebold activity. HYALOSPHERE OR ANNULUS.—Treated with tuloidin this sphere appears always trans- parent and well defined as & narrow, even, generally highly refractive annulus, which surrounds both the oentrosphere and the nu- cleus. Stained with Erlich-Biondl no differ- ence is seen between the plasmosphere and the annulus, both staining deeply and without Any differentiation. This is by far the most prominent one out- side of the nucieus, especially on account of the violet color given by the tuloidin blue, or by its size. The violet color, however, is not always constant. But this sphere is also dis- tinguished on account of its granulated proto- plasm, which may in most instances be readily discernea. This granulation is not regular, but quite uneven, some of the granules being Diagram Showing the Different Sections of a Plasmocyte. e D—Granosphere. B—Somosphere ¢Archoplasm B-—Hyalosphere A—Centrosom C—Centrosphere F—Plasmosphere In the above diagram the nucleus is repre- sented as being below the base line. Immedi- ately above it in the center is the annulusor hyalosphere, while on the sides of the nucleus extends the outer layer or plasinosphere. In EnNLARGEMENTS From SupES ™MADE BY 1SA IVING ORGANISMe DIAGRAMS SHOWING THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CENTROSOMES. it was known before Dr. Eisew’s discovery. The centrosomes appear as two specks at the No. 1 shows a cell bottom of the dark spot in the center. No. 2 shows the centrosomes preparing to separate from the nucleus, No. 3 shows them stretched to some length. No. 4 shows one held only by a protoplasmic shaft. No. 5 shows & ceutrosome as an independent organism in the blood serum. If we study this figure closer we see that the | like margin, the hyalosphere next to it, almost | DR.EISEN sn PROVING HIS WonDERFUL 'DiSCoVERY THAT EVERY ATOM 1t Tue BODY: &eneral the effect of the tuloidin stain is a8 large, others smaller and of irregular color. The plasmophere stains faintly blue, | | with darker blue blotches along the outer | sharply defined, making & strong contrast be- The periphery of this sphere s even and tween it and the hyalosphere. As regards size this sphere is variable. Frequently it is very large or it may constitute only & narrow crescent, It frequently happens that at one pole of the corpuscle the granosphere. is very large, while at the other pole again it is small or even wanting. While the plasmosphere and probably the hyalosphere extend all round the nucleus, the granosphere is confined to the twopoles. It is this granosphere which evi- dently presses on the nucleus at each pole and causes the dell in the nucleus. By thisIdo not mean that it always lies nearest to the nuclear dell, but simply that it is the outer- most of the spheres which press around the nucleus at certain points and ceuse & dell or flattening at this point. . Between the granosphere and the nucleus theére is always a very thin lsyer of hyalo- sphere, but as this sphere extends all around the nucleus it .is evident that it cannot be the one that causes the dell. The granosphere at times issituated much further away from the nucleus, and when in thix state it has also a more round form. The contact with the nucleus then causes the granosphere to flatten out, while it causes a cavity in the nucleus. The granosphere must, therefore, be composed of a denser protoplasm than the nucleus. But this greater density would probably not in the absence of acell wall be ablé to impress the nucleus except for the elasticity and tenacity of the outer layers, the plasmosphere and the hyalosphere, which prevent the granosphere from escaping. CENTROSPHERE.—This is the largest of the most interior spheres. It is nearly always well defined from the granosphere and fre- quently surrounded by a light irregular body. Its position in the granosphere is variable; 1t may be situated at the base of the cone, or it may form the center of the rounded grano- sphere. It appears to be the movability, the position of the centrosphere, which determines the form and position of the sphere. Thusin all cone-shaped plasmocytoblasts the centro- sphere is always situated close to the base, while in the rounded plasmocytoblasts the centrosphere is situated in the center, or nearer the center of the granosphere. The cen- ‘trosphere then determines the shape of the pissmocytoblast. The form of the centro- sphere is variable. It is generally round, orat least rounded, but sometimes it is starlike. There may be one or more, sometimes three, rarely, for centrospheres in each plasmocyto- blast. In the case of a plurality of centro- spheres there can be little doubt but that they are parts of the original centrosphere, parts which have separated and which carry away, each one respectively, a part of the grano- ephere as a kind of envelope. As regards staining, the centrosphere stains generally more faintly than the granosphere. But by some unaccountable reason the rebus sometimes. occurs. Iu successful stains with cosin and thiorin or eosin and methylblue O, the centrosphere is frequently stained pale ink. ¥ CONOSPHERE AND CENTROSOMES.—We mow come to the innermost of the spheres, which again contains one or more darker staining minute bodies. Ithink there be no doubt as to the nature of these and that we here have to deal with the centrosomes of respective in- vestigators, whether use will distinguish the somosphere as separate from the centrosomes Dr. Jerome A. Anderson On Its Importance. ornot. Itis certaln that the dark granules are seldom entirely free, but that they are surrounded by a dark staining irregular sphere, to which J have given the name somo- sphere, as being the one that nearest incloses the centrosomes. The relationship of the so- mosphere and centrosomes with the centro- sphere is not always plain. It would be incor- rect to state that the centrospnere surrounds the somosphere, as frequently the somosphere is seen to lie at one edge of the. centrosphere. ‘While the plasmocytoblastis in a resting stage Icould frequently detect several darker gran- ules in the somosphere, and which, judging from more advanced plasmocytoblasts, proba- bly never exceed three or four in number. At least I have never, with any certainty, found more than four centrosomes in any plasmo- cytoblast, and rarely more than three. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLASMOCYTOBLASTS.— I have already pointed out that by arranging a series of drawings of the plasmocytoblasts it soon becomes evident that they are. in different stages of development. Not only are some much iarger than others, but these larger oies show a division of the inner spheres. And this division appears to be caused by the separation of .the centrosomes, carrying with them each one an envelope of one or two spheres, A further stage yet and this grano- here surrounds itsclf with a shell of hyalo- sphere and plasmosphere. No Ceul MEMBRANE.—The plasmocytes are not surrounded by any cell membrane, the outer zone or plasmosphere being entirely uncovered. Icould not find any signs of the formation of & new membrane except in one or two instances. In this instance the plasmo- cyte was so rounded and the plasmosphere showed mno smeboid projections. A thin membrane bounded the sphere outwardly. Another point of considerable interest is, I LaTe observed. concerning the staining of the endoplasmic sphere. When there are two dis- | tinet divisions of the centrospheres or of the granospheres, one frequently stains different from the other. The final effort of the centrosome appears to | me to be to separate itself entirely and to form the center of a plasmocyte. But if such sep- aration takes place,as I know it does, it is mostly confined to the plasmoeytoblast and | cases very pale and unstained, while the cen- trosomes are very sharply defined. In order | not to repeat myself too much I will not now describe the respective figures or discuss the variations of the respective spheres. Concerning the final inclosures of the cen- trosomes, I can only say that they vary to considerable extent as regards location. ButI have frequently seen them lying in a half-circle | and connected by a thin somosphere. Or the division may be more perfect, in which case we A BIG STEP IN ADVANCE. It Demonstrates That There Is a Scientific Life Basis. The Discoverer an Eminent Member of the California Academy of Sciences. TaE CALL having shown me proofs of & review of a new book by Dr. Gustay Eisen, and having requested an opinion as to the importance of the histological discoveries therein outlined, I have only to say that, if correctly presented, there is no question that Dr. Eisen has added to scientific knowledge that which wiil make his name familiar to all students of physiology heres after. Put plainly the discovery amounts to this: In both reproduction and cell prolifica- tion for nutritive or growth purposes, new cells are provided for by the division or segmentation of an already existingcell. In other words, all cells are cell-born, no spontaneous generation of even the most humble beginnings of life being admitted. A perfect type of a cell (many believe all cells) contains a nucleus, and within this, again, a nucleolus, or, in reproductive cells, a germinal spot. The division of cells is brought about by a splitting of the cell-substance, the active agent in which is the nucleolus or centrosome. The process is well described by Dr. Eisen and need not pe repeated here. But this centrosome, which has been held to be only 4n essential portion, or by others, only a function of a cell, by Dr, Eisen's find three distinct centrospheres, each with a | discovery suddenly reverses its position centrosome. and the cell becomes of secondary import- The new element has increased in size, and f ance—in fact only an annex to this strange asit has moved away it hes also changed its | Jittle body. The real point upon which rh o y which life appears and is maintained ularity of form, but show a surprising regular- | 2V FEEH T APEE bt e e ity, or as much as could be expected in any D 3 element. But, moreover, the final step inthe | cell takes quite a secondary position. The importance of this discovery, if development of the plasmocytoblast is to sur- verified, will be most apparent to scien- round itself with a regular and complete coy- ering of the exterior zone, the plasmosphere. | ¢ o PR R o = 2 It1s the closing of this sphere which decides """,‘_'n“d ‘:‘nm_ .:'lo' l“: 'T{‘ "; '";": the time when the new element, the plasmo- | &' sy o o Iawmindy cyte. is complete. however, can appreciate the fact that a step_definitely in advance has been taken in the attempt to solve the mys« THE PLAsMocYTES.—In the foregoing I have set forth how the inner spheres of the plasmo- | tery of being from its physiecal aspect. To some of the deductions, how- vital centrum, eapable under certain condi- tions to exist as an independent element in the blood, capable of growth, assimilation of food and probably of movement. GusTAV EISEN, Ph, D, cytoblasts have gradually receded from the | immediate vicinity of the nucleus, how they | have clothed themselves with envelopes of the 2 outer or ectoplasmic layers,and finally how | €Ver, the writer begs leave to demur. they have entirely separated themselvés from | For instance, it is implied that the the fusiform corpuscles existing as new entl- | migrating of centrosomes to opposite tles in the blood serum, with all signs of in- | poles of the nucleus may be a voluntary crease in size, assimilation of food, or Phogo- | act on their part. This inference is not cytosts, exhibiting amaboid movement just | justifiable and is the result of an over- ot oF 1% PLASKOCYTES - Whie a large | CUSETIESS 0D the part of modern scientists numbver of plasmocytes are not any larger': 0 d:monslr_ate a physical basis for life; to than the largest divisions of tne plasmocyto- | leave consciousness, which refuses to be blast many of them are much larger, and from | weighed or measured, out of account. this I draw the couclusion that they must | All such efforts must fail, and not until have grown. Between these the largest plas- | scientists recognize the aptness of the old x:ocwes n]zld m?fi ye,‘. ;t:flciz;d"gr:ez:s“zt symbol of the serpent biting 1ts own tail Tocytes which wers s large as the nucleus of | VL they ever succeed in solving the riddle the ersthrocyte. The majority, however, are of physical existence. Consciousness and much smaller, as will be seen by the measure- | [atter must be recognized as coequal and ments given below. conjoined in every physical manifestation This growth must be caused by the assimila- | or the problem is but half solved and the tion of food of various kinds. Probably most | student fails. For the centrosomes to thus of the food supply is derived from the blood | deliberately change their positions to Jerumdiect, d‘?:e'-u“;flr‘:c ot ‘;l';;:;;zyi:“?: | bring about cell division would imply a ained by a di ) < g : Thus I have found many times plasmocytes | CORSciousness far exceeding their func- which had engulfed small erythrocytes—of | tions in the animal economy, and would course only those of the smallest kind. This | further imply the body of manto be the is especially interesting, because we find en- | result of the conscious action of entities closed in the erythrocyte a parasitic protozoa, | infinitely below him in the scale of con- the life history of which I have made out. It | scious evolution. 4 is not difficult to see it if we have an instance | I other words, it would be practically of phogoeytosis, or if simply one blood ele- : I reat T boon superposed on the other, as fre. | the same thing as to fancy bricks and quently occurs. I find gepeatedly plasmocytes | INOrtar in a confused heap suddenly of which lie on top of a red corpuscle and it | their own volitioh sorting themselves out, would at a hasty examination appear as if | each taking its proper position and thus the plasmocyte was inclosed in the tormer. | constructinga builaing without the super- But when a simple overlapping occurs I find | yision of an architect, or under workmen. that there is always a halo aron‘liu; ux: edges | Rlectricity is the nearest approach to of the superposed element, caused by the press- e < it it ing bnck‘;e( ‘:)he protoplasm of the underlying thz\tlwmch we recognize as ‘vital action, one. In case of real phogocytosis this halo | OF life. Many believe it to be a lower Dever oceurs, aspect of the same thing. If one studies From the foregoing observations it will be | the process of cell division in these cuts, seen that in the fusitorm elements, of the blood | with this ides in mind, he will discover at len:' D P:r:l;x’s ;’;fi::; many things which remind him of elec- STOCQUETUIC AN, WO, . Oanpo trical action. Two poles, two centers of them—show an independent life history and 5 : X lite; suryiving, gmwrfilg and changing long | 0FCe, evidences of positive and negative after the other constituents of the cell have | dttraction are plainly apparent. : disintegrated as such. Asfar as I cansee the [ Dr. Eisen will, in the opinion of the plasmoeyte occupies the same position as| writer, be much nearer the true theory if, would a real cell, showing with it all the gen- | recognizing the mutual dependence and eral qaalities of the cell as understood by | jpteraction of consciousness and matter, e G O, T S inatanbe of wa, | e Will see in the change in position of his gumm plasmocyte division has come under | Sentrosomes the inteliigent result of my notice. The question now arises, inwhat | electrical (vltul) action directed b;_' and relationship stands the microcentrum, or the | from \‘«139 conscious aspect of a universe centrosome, to the nucleus and the center of | Which is not all material. This would the cell? Asis well known, there are two oppc- | not necessarily mean that man supervises site views on this matter. these functional changes in his own body, On&lregl:\l: t:ahee f.'fi";;':.".‘;.;;finf’:fln;}sfie does not; but the general. mode of constituent of < R 5 . paramount importance to the life history of ‘g“"“ be"‘f °°‘“°:‘"e“ 0‘1 d‘“““’i us say— the cell. Thé adherents of the other theory | the oversoul of the world would beim. claim that the centrosome is only an organ of | bressed upon every particle of matter the cell, like the heart of the animal body, | Within that world, and each particle, when either alyays present or temporarily created | it reached the stage of the cell, would at the time of mitosis or cell division. strive, however blindly, to carry out and According to "“: fatigr "h”;’ the only func- | gpey this its inner guiding force. . :::l:;o‘t‘?u‘:; e ina ;‘:ch:}i:f;%';‘;:: For as matter and consciousness cannot the complicatéd forces of mitosis, and when | D¢ divided (caunot be thought of even as this is accomplished the function would be | Separated) each particle or atom of sub- gome. ¢ e stance would carry with it its informing This theory would suffice as long as centro- | soul, thus derived from the impress of the somes were not found in cells which had lost | great Over Soul. Of.conng this implies their power of mitosis, or at least would never | pantheistic conception of the universe agsin divide by kanyokinesis. gut, unless this is recognized, how is man I will now point out that if we not only rec- | to ever solve these riddles of the sphinx? ognize that probably the microcentrum is | It is not what some one else believes, but always present in every cell, but also can | truth that the scientist wants, and it is prove that the microcentrum 1n some | with the honest endeavor to heip that cells, as in the fusiform corpuscles of Hthese suzgestions are offered to such the batrachiseps, survive all other parts; | learned and intelligent students as Dr. that they clothe themselves with various | Eisen. envelopes of cytoplasmic spheres; that they | His discovery takesusone step nearer incressain size ana assimilate food, and that | the physical basis of reproduction and nu- they remain independent of the former celi— | trition, but thisis but half the mystery. then I think we cannot help coming to the Unless we believe that the stream can rise conclusion that the centrosome is something | Digher than its source; that outof blind else than a large microsome, which is situated ‘%"‘"d‘.’l?y“l‘fi through senseless matter all at the junction of the attraction sphere, and :io’n lopaely. conscious states of compas- whose temporary function is to assist the | 70 ?:’1’::::3 ?&‘kfi'}g&:!cxi:;x;a; ;hweerlti Sanyokaests, ¢ o other ways accomplish | as the physical basis of human hopes and Ihold, therefore, as I think, s logical con- | foice: [Ulectricity is o possible mode or clusion from my observations of the batrachi- | yioh ¥ ATHCH, conseiousness miay, Ack seps blood, that the centrosomes not a tem- | phu SEC Chroush matter, an agont Which pory organ of the cell, but a most Important | of ahsolute unity, and even in the beha- vior of these 1aysterious centrosomes may be detected the mode of action of this which would seem to be the obedient ser- vant of the creative gods. . JEROME A, ANDERSON, M.D., F.T.8,