Take his own definition of "bioplasts," as copied from Professor ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
Living organisms come, of course, from this essential plasma, but without an elementary principle or vital unit therein, there would be no "bioplasts," in the sense in which Professor Beale uses this term. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
Nor are these "bioplasts" mere structureless matter, however minute they may be as "little points." ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
Beale, behind whose "bioplasts," we place the "vital unit" -- not a variable but a constant unit -- we would have him bear in mind (what he so well knows) that the finest fibres that go to make up these tissues lie quite beyond the microscopic limit in their interlaced and spirally-coiled reticulations, so that nothing can be predicated of their ultimate contexture, any more than of the ultimate distribution of matter itself. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
Mr. Joseph Cook, who enthusiastically follows Professor Beale in his theory of life, in one of his "Boston Monday Lectures," says; "It is beyond contradiction that we know that these little points ( 'bioplasts') of structureless matter spin the threads, and weave the warp and woof, of organisms." ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
These bioplasts are living organisms which take up nutrient matter and convert it by assimilation into tissues, nerves, fibres, bones, etc. -- into the higher and more complex organs that go to make up living structure. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
For all these membranous tissues are innumerably thronged with bioplasts or plastide particles, not for the purposes of obedience to man's will, or of performing any autonomous function, but simply to supply the tissues with the necessary nutrient matter to make up for the constant waste that is going on in a healthy living organ. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
But decidedly the most objectionable statement of Professor Beale, although one confidently re-affirmed by our "Boston Monday Lecturer," is that which makes bioplasm and bioplasts the only "living matter." ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
These obedient bioplasts determine nothing, direct nothing. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
Some of the panspermists have gone so far as to assert that everything which exists is referable to the _vis vitæ_ -- to non-corporeal, yet extended vital units, mere metaphysical points -- like Professor Beale's bioplasts in the finer nerve-reticulations -- or living things endowed with ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
This mysterious transmutation of one thing into another, as organic matter into living organisms, is due to a vitally implanted principle, not to these little bioplasts, or mere epithelial and other tools with which the vital principle works. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
There are millions of these bioplasts -- taking the word in the sense in which ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
The third objection to Mr. Cook's statement is, that if bioplasts spin, it is as dependent, and not as independent machines or agencies. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
The microscope may demonstrate that these little bioplasts throb -- have life; but there is no intelligent purpose manifested by them except as they are moved by an unseen hand that conclusively directs the whole structural work -- builds up the one complete symmetrical structure, not its thousand independent parts having no relation to a general plan. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
He may not have been dead five minutes, and Professor Beale's bioplasts might still be at work spinning matter and weaving tissue for the integrity of the displaced bone. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
The occupant of the song-mansion is gone, but not one of these bioplasts has dropped a clew, thrown down a shuttle, abandoned a loom, or fled in dismay to the core of its cell. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
The fact that Professor Beale has discovered that what he calls bioplasm and germinal points or bioplasts may take on a distinct and separate color from tissue, when subjected to a solution of carmine in ammonia, is no evidence that he has penetrated the adytum of this sacred temple of Life, wherein lies the "mystery of mysteries." ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
Now, these germinal points, or bioplasts, in each of these myriads of cells, work, not separately and independently, like so many oysters in their respective shells, but harmoniously and together, as if under the supervisional direction of one supreme architect and builder. ❋ R. W. Wright (N/A)
These small cell-like bioplasts are the workmen of the organism. ❋ Martha Meir Allen (1890)
The same experiment can be made with blood with the same result -- killing the blood bioplasts. ❋ Martha Meir Allen (1890)
