So PROTOPLASM. 



Of a Living Spherule. 



Let us imagine we could look into the ultimate particles 

 of the living, active, moving matter, and consider what we 

 should probably discern. I think we should see spherules 

 of extreme minuteness, each composed of still smaller 

 spherules, and these of spherules infinitely minute. Such 

 spherules have upon their surface a small quantity of matter 

 differing in properties from that in the interior, but so soft 

 and diffluent that the particles may come into very close 

 proximity. In each little spherule the matter is in active 

 movement, and new minute spherules are being formed in 

 its central part, and these are making their way outwards 

 so as to give place for the formation of new ones, which 

 are continually appearing in the centre of every one of 

 the living particles. The rate of growth of the entire 

 mass varies with the rate at which the new particles are 

 evolved in the centre. 



Each spherical particle is free to move in fluid, and the 

 intervals between the particles are occupied by fluid. This 

 fluid contains, in solution, 



1. Matter about to become living ; 



2. Substances which exert a chemical action, but do 

 not necessarily form a constituent part of the living mass, 

 together with particles which are rejected, and not capable 

 of being animated ; and 



3. Substances resulting from the changes ensuing in 

 particles which have arrived at the end of their period of 

 existence, and the compounds formed by the action of 

 oxygen upon these. 



