Globulism

Abstract

In the beginning of the 19th century, the theory arose that biological tissues were composed of spherical “globules,” probably of uniform size, much as solid matter was composed of relatively uniform atoms. Where did this notion come from? Was it strictly an analogy with physical science? Is it possible that it came from an underlying philosophy of uniformity of constituents? Or did it have its origins in the limitations of the microscopes and other optical devices used in studying the tissues? There are and have been proponents of each of these views. The timing of the resolution of the conflict may say something about its origins.