A Method for the Physiological Study of Tissues

The aim of the method described in the present paper is to maintain tissues in a condition of uninterrupted growth in a medium which does not deteriorate spontaneously. This simple idea has doubtless occurred to many experimenters, but great technical difficulties have so far prevented the development on this principle of a method of cultivating tissues. The problem consists of giving the cells the necessary food material and removing the catabolic substances from the medium without disturbing the tissues and without bacterial contamination. I t has been solved by the construction of containers and instruments permitting the aseptic handling of t h e cultures, and by the use of a medium composed of two parts, solid and fluid, the solid medium being continually bathed by the fluid medium which is changed as often as necessary.