WITH THE MICROSCOPE. 325 



is alive, a certain power characteristic of each different species of 

 organism, and derived from a pre-existing particle, which exerts a 

 special influence in determining the composition and properties of the 

 substance that is to be formed. The power which determines the 

 change which the matter is to undergo resides in, or at any rate affects 

 the germinal matter of the cell only. And lastly, we conclude that 

 this power is not of the nature of ordinary force because there is no 

 example of ordinary force producing any effects like it, or exhibiting 

 any analogy with force phenomena known to us, and we, therefore, 

 attribute these effects to the working of some power which exists but 

 which belongs to a different order or class, to any force or power 

 whose workings are at present known. 



Although, as was to be expected in these days of 'positive' 

 knowledge, these views concerning vital power have met with con- 

 siderable opposition, no one has yet explained in any more satisfac^ 

 tory manner the phenomena occurring in a living amoeba or mucus 

 corpuscle, nor is it very likely the attempt to do so will find much 

 favour, seeing that there is no escape from the confession that we are 

 not able to explain why the living matter moves and grows, making 

 amoeba material out of matter totally different in composition and pro- 

 perties. It is said to be unphilosophical to attribute the phenomena to 

 amoeba power, or amoeba force, or amoeba life, but as long as we remain 

 ignorant and the question remains open, surely it is better to attribute 

 the phenomena to a power we know nothing about than to assert 

 that they are due to force. 



Is not this very unsatisfactory attempt at explanation less blunder- 

 ing and more honest, inasmuch as it is a confession of ignorance, 

 than the affirmation that amoeba phenomena are due to the con- 

 ditions under which the matter was placed, when we know not what 

 we mean by the 'conditions,' while we do know that under no 

 conditions we are acquainted with can an amceba result unless an 

 amoeba or its ovum or germ is already there ? 



But in the hope that those who differ from me in these matters 

 will teach me how I may explain the facts without resorting to a 

 vital hypothesis, I will endeavour to state my difficulties more 

 distinctly. 



I see under the microscope a little clear, transparent, structureless 

 matter, which moves in various directions. Portions of the mass 

 project at different points around the circumference. Some of these 

 are again drawn into the general mass, others become detached, 

 never to join again. Each separate mass grows, or takes up non- 

 living matter around it, which non-living matter or certain of its 

 elements becomes part and parcel of the growing moving mass. The 



