HERBERT SPENCER ON PROTOGENES. 23 



but it is a mere assertion, for the bodies in question cannot 

 be detected in the matter while it is actually alive; and 

 when obtained they do not possess the properties or powers 

 characteristic of the living matter. What, therefore, can be 

 gained by asserting that these things constitute living matter? 

 What is the use of trying to make people believe and con- 

 fess that there is no difference between a living thing and 

 the same thing dead, when it is clearly possible that there 

 may be the very greatest difference ? 



And I must not omit to notice here a remark made by 

 Mr. Herbert Spencer, which illustrates the extraordinary 

 opinion entertained by him concerning the difference be- 

 tween living, growing, active, matter, and perfectly lifeless 

 matter. " On the other hand (he says) the microscope has 

 traced down organisms to simpler and simpler forms, until, in 

 the Protogenes of Professor Hseckel there has been reached 

 a type distinguishable from a fragment of albumen only by its 

 finely granular character"* Mr. Herbert Spencer should 

 prepare a solution of albumen and a solution of " proto- 

 genes," and by careful evaporation he might obtain two 

 extracts not distinguishable from one another. Both would 

 exhibit a " finely granular character," and thus the important 

 fact that there was no difference whatever between the 

 inanimate albumen and the inanimate "protogenes" would 

 be demonstrated. And as every one is now prepared to 

 admit that there is no difference between dead "proto- 

 genes" and living "protogenes," we must of course accept 

 the conclusion that the lowest forms of life are but forms of 

 albumen. In this way " the chasm between the inorganic 

 and the organic is being filled up ! " 



* 'The Principles of Psychology,' p. 137. 



't Ci- 



